Ashmead Combined School Nursery

A familiar adult before the first session, a home visit and time to settle gradually: these are defining features of Ashmead’s nursery provision. Each child has a Key Person allocated before starting, giving families a point of contact from the outset.

Part of Ashmead Combined School in Aylesbury, the nursery accommodates 90 children across its morning and afternoon provision, with a maximum of 45 per session. Children can join in the term following their third birthday; eligible two-year-olds also have places, capped at eight in each session. Those session limits matter when considering the size of the group your child will join.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) guides learning, development and care here. For children, this includes learning about emotions through Bear Feelings Cards, a starting point for talking about how they feel. Morning and afternoon sessions each last three hours, providing a repeated session pattern across the week.

Everyday routines feature in the introduction to nursery life. Settling sessions can include lunch or snacks, so children practise joining these social moments as they become familiar with the setting. Photo albums, pictures brought from home and visual timetables help make people and routines recognisable. In Early Years, Bear Feelings Cards introduce emotions, giving children a concrete way to begin discussing how they feel.

Settling proceeds at the child’s pace. A home visit is offered before the start date, and initial sessions typically take around 60 minutes, increasing as the child becomes more comfortable. Parents can remain for early sessions, with short separations introduced gradually. This gives families a staged introduction rather than a single leap into the usual session.

Before starting, staff gather information about dietary requirements, familiar comfort items and routines. Feedback continues through conversations and Tapestry. If settling takes longer, additional sessions with a parent may be arranged, alongside adapted timings or an extended introduction. Family photographs and comfort objects can form part of that support; parents are contacted promptly when concerns arise.

For children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), the school plans to identify difficulties early and involve parents in decisions. Support follows a cycle of assessing needs, planning help, putting it into practice and reviewing progress. Parents are informed when their child receives special educational provision, keeping them involved in how support develops.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place, and it confers no priority under the 2026–27 admission arrangements. Families must make a separate application through their home local authority. Buckinghamshire residents apply through Buckinghamshire Council. For the 2026 entry cycle, the deadline was 15 January 2026.

Transition support is a separate matter. During the summer term, the SENDCo and Reception Team Leader liaise with nurseries and, where appropriate, external professionals. For a child with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), that liaison also includes parents, helping information about their needs follow them into school.

The 15-hour pattern consists of five mornings or five afternoons: 08:45–11:45 or 12:15–15:15. Eligible children can also access 30 funded hours a week. The fixed morning or afternoon pattern gives families clear collection times to plan around.

Nursery enquiries can go to office@ashmeadschool.org.uk or 01296 484434. Paid sessions may be withdrawn with a week’s notice. A funded place is withdrawn when an absence for a family holiday or pilgrimage exceeds four weeks, so extended travel needs careful consideration.