The John Hampden School Nursery, Wendover

Indoor exploration and outdoor activity shape the Early Years Class at The John Hampden School. This 26-place nursery is part of the infant school in Wendover, serving children approaching four in the academic year before statutory schooling begins. Its practical rhythm centres on regular mornings, with the option of a longer day through the 30-hour entitlement. Families choosing it should plan around that morning commitment.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) gives learning its structure. Language, physical development and children's social development sit alongside early literacy, mathematics, creative expression and understanding their surroundings. In parent terms, learning involves communicating, moving, exploring and developing ideas, rather than simply completing formal tasks. Development Matters guides how staff plan teaching and assess learning.

Activity takes place outside as well as inside. Play, exploration and thinking through problems are part of the curriculum's approach; children are encouraged to participate actively. Physical provision in the Early Years classes combines activities children initiate themselves with adult-led work, developing both smaller movements and larger physical skills. That gives movement a place within learning, rather than confining it to a separate exercise session.

Self-registration is part of the EYFS morning routine before staff take the formal register. For parents following learning at home, the class pages carry What we are Learning sheets covering the week's curriculum. These give families a concrete starting point for conversations about what their child is doing.

A staggered start can ease the move into nursery. Before admission, parents are invited to a meeting during the preceding term to discuss routines, ask questions and learn how to support their child. This makes preparation a shared task between home and school. Families can also arrange a visit and speak with staff before their child starts.

Support for additional needs begins within the EYFS. Parents, teachers and teaching assistants can raise concerns, and the school informs families when it has concerns of its own. Teachers and the special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO) discuss strategies and progress with parents. The school site has a wheelchair-access ramp and a toilet with a shower area for disabled users, concrete features relevant to families considering physical access.

An optional lunch club carries a charge. Ask the school for current charges when planning a longer day.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Buckinghamshire Council's normal online admissions process; the school manages nursery applications itself. Treat these as two distinct applications when planning the next stage.

For Buckinghamshire residents, the dated application window on the admissions page ran from 5 November 2025 to 15 January 2026, closing at 11.59pm. That deadline has passed. For a later intake, use the council's admissions process and the deadline for that cycle. Choosing the nursery should therefore be a decision about the nursery experience, with a separate Reception application still required.

Morning sessions run from 8.45am until 11.45am. The expectation is that children eventually attend every morning session each week, allowing a staggered beginning if parents prefer. The 30-hour flexible entitlement permits six hours of attendance per day, with lunch club as an optional charged addition. Regular mornings are therefore the key scheduling consideration.

Nursery enquiries and applications go directly to the school. Contact the office at office@jhampden.bucks.sch.uk or call 01296 622629; appointments to visit can be arranged through the office. The pre-start meeting also provides an opportunity to purchase school uniform, bringing practical preparation together with discussion of routines.