Hornton Primary School Nursery Review

Shared learning space and quieter areas give Peach Tree pre-school its defining shape. The nursery belongs to Orchard Class at Hornton Primary School, with pre-school children using the same learning space as the Reception group while retaining separate areas for focused activity. That gives the youngest children both company and room to concentrate.

Children can start from 2 years and 6 months in the Foundation Stage Unit. An early years specialist leads the provision, supported by a staff team. Ofsted judged the school's early years provision Good at the inspection on 21 and 22 November 2023; this is an early years judgement within the school inspection.

Play provides the starting point for learning. Adults plan activities, children pursue their own ideas, and staff introduce adult-directed work when a particular skill needs attention. The balance allows children to explore an interest while receiving guidance that moves their learning forward.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together physical development, communication, emotional and social development, mathematics, literacy, creative expression and understanding the world. In parent language, learning includes how children move, talk, relate to others and make sense of their surroundings, alongside early number and language skills. Activities across the session draw on these connected areas.

Children explore through their senses, try out ideas and practise solving problems. Making decisions and expressing feelings are also part of the play approach. Daily observations help practitioners judge what a child understands and plan the next step, so the activity choices respond to individual development.

Experiences have also extended beyond the classroom. In April 2022, nursery children joined a visit to Stratford Butterfly Farm with a Key Stage 1 group, returning with information and stories to share. This is a concrete example of an outing giving children something new to discuss.

In November 2023, nursery staff showed attentive care towards the children, and children across early years were learning useful classroom habits. Those routines matter alongside the learning activities: they help young children understand how their session works.

Communication uses the school's Arbor Parent App and Parent Portal for messages, announcements and contact details. Teachers have more time for questions at the end of the day; longer conversations can be arranged through the office. This gives families both a brief opportunity to talk and a route to a planned discussion.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process. The application route is Oxfordshire County Council's primary admissions service.

Sharing Orchard Class learning space is a practical connection between the two age groups. Keep that familiarity separate from the allocation of a school place: choosing Peach Tree should be a decision about the nursery experience itself.

Peach Tree's nursery day runs from 9am to 3pm. These are the nursery's own timings, so families should plan collection around that finish.

The nursery is at Hornton Primary School, Church Lane, Hornton, Banbury, OX15 6BZ. To arrange a visit, telephone 01295 670335 or email office.2001@hornton.oxon.sch.uk. A visit gives parents an opportunity to see the shared learning space and quieter focus areas that shape the provision.