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Nursery at Queensway School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
A mud kitchen, a reading corner and a classroom of its own give Queensway’s nursery a distinct identity within the school. Children aged 3 and 4 attend here, with the nursery classroom and outdoor play space beside the Reception classrooms. This is provision for preschool children, with space for exploration as well as an introduction to school routines.
The team comprises a Nursery Leader and two Teaching Assistants. At the Ofsted inspection on 9 and 10 June 2022, early years provision was graded Good. Children were learning to wait their turn and follow positive behaviour routines, giving everyday social learning a clear place alongside the curriculum.
Play has a practical purpose here. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together language, physical development, relationships, early literacy and maths, creative expression and learning about the world. Adults plan activities across these areas, combining teaching with opportunities for children to follow their interests. Busy Birds time adds planned experiences to the activities children can choose for themselves.
Early reading begins with listening. Little Wandle Letters and Sounds introduces nursery children to sounds around them and prepares them to join spoken sounds together or separate them. Books from the reading corner go home to share and are exchanged on Fridays. That gives families a simple way to continue enjoying stories together.
For investigation, children have a water tray, construction area and curiosity cube, alongside a growing area and mud kitchen. These offer different starting points for observing, building and asking questions. Computing also enters play: MiniMash on iPads, technological equipment in role play and programmable Beebots introduce children to using devices and giving instructions.
Outdoor areas are accessible daily. Bikes, a climbing frame and ball activities develop movement, while Forest School sessions offer another setting for physical exploration. Indoors, threading and cutting practise smaller hand movements. Nursery activities include dough disco and squiggle while you wiggle, connecting movement with the hand control needed for writing.
Settling begins before the first regular session. Staff make home visits, and children have taster and settling days in their new classroom. Information is also gathered from previous early years settings. These steps help adults get to know the child and give families opportunities to discuss their needs before the routine begins.
Parents can contribute photographs through Evidence Me, including adventures with the class mascot, Robin. Children then have something familiar to talk about with their classmates. Staff are available for conversations with families, keeping personal contact alongside the digital communication.
Support for additional needs starts in nursery. In June 2022, staff training helped adults recognise SEND and respond to children’s needs from this stage onwards. Current provision includes early intervention and meetings with families to agree goals. For children learning English, staff also work with families to understand development in their home language when difficulties arise.
Lunch falls between 11:30am and 12:30pm. Children taking the 30-hour provision can have a purchased school meal through Fresh Start. Foundation Stage children receive fruit each day, bringing a regular healthy snack into the routine.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application, including those whose children already attend Queensway’s nursery. For entry in September 2027, applications open in November 2026 and close in January 2027 through Oxfordshire County Council’s Reception application route.
Classroom familiarity and admissions remain separate matters. Taster and settling days support children beginning Reception, with staff gathering information from early years settings. These help prepare a child for the change; they do not secure a place.
The 15-hour pattern is fixed: five mornings, 8:30am to 11:30am, or five afternoons, noon to 3pm. Families cannot mix mornings and afternoons. Eligible working parents can use the 30-hour pattern, 9am to 3pm over five days. Both run during term time for 38 weeks each year. Extra paid sessions for children attending for 15 hours are considered where capacity permits; contact the school for current charges.
Nursery children wear the school uniform, with logos optional. Breakfast and after-school clubs serve Reception to Year 6, so nursery sessions need to fit the family’s childcare arrangements. For an application form or to arrange a nursery visit, contact 01295 251631 or nursery@queensway.oxon.sch.uk.
Children aged 3 and 4 can attend. The nursery does not provide places for 2-year-olds.
The 15-hour entitlement uses five mornings or five afternoons, with no mixed pattern. Additional paid sessions may be considered if there is capacity.
Children have daily outdoor access, including bikes, climbing and ball activities, as well as Forest School sessions.
Staff visit families at home, offer taster and settling days, and gather information from previous early years settings.
No. A separate Reception application is required. For September 2027 entry, the application window runs from November 2026 to January 2027 through Oxfordshire County Council.
