Bardfield Academy Nursery

Two age-group rooms give Bardfield’s nursery its shape: one for two-year-olds, another for children aged three and four. This is the school’s own provision in Vange, Basildon, welcoming children aged two to four. The distinction between rooms matters when considering which group your child will join.

At the Ofsted inspection on 11 and 12 June 2024, early years provision was graded Good. That judgement covers the school’s early years, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Talking, listening and learning through play are the nursery’s stated priorities. Its Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) approach brings learning into exploration: children begin connecting what they have learned with their play as the year progresses. The nursery aims to help children listen to others and develop considerate behaviour, giving social learning a place alongside language development.

Children’s interests help shape the approach. Bardfield aims to adapt learning to individual needs, with practical experiences encouraging creativity and friendships. Across the school, children also have opportunities for outdoor learning. The two nursery rooms provide the concrete indoor distinction between age groups.

Curriculum continuity. In June 2024, some early years subject plans lacked clear connections to later learning in Year 1. This left some children less securely prepared for their next stage. Families should weigh that specific curriculum concern alongside the Good early years judgement.

Settling sessions help children become familiar with nursery, with more personalised support offered where needed. Families can also tour the nursery and meet staff before their child starts. These are useful opportunities to introduce the people and space before regular attendance begins.

The nursery team includes a nursery nurse and nursery teaching assistants. Across Bardfield, all staff complete Trauma Perceptive Practice training. The school treats behaviour as communication and teaches strategies for managing emotions, so its approach includes helping children express distress in acceptable ways.

For additional needs, the school’s SENCo works with families, teachers and external professionals, including on medical needs and care plans. This gives parents a school-level route for discussing support alongside the nursery team.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place and gives no priority under Bardfield’s oversubscription criteria. Families must make a separate Reception application through Essex County Council’s normal admissions process, meeting the normal deadline. Applications can be made online at www.essex.gov.uk/admissions.

The criteria consider looked-after status, the priority admissions area and siblings before remaining applications. Where a category is oversubscribed, home-to-school distance decides priority, with closer homes ranked first. Familiarity with the nursery therefore needs to be considered separately from the allocation of a school place.

Gold is the morning session, running from 8:40am to 11:40am. Drop-off is at nursery; collection is at the gate beside the KS1 playground. Silver runs from 12:15pm to 3:15pm, reversing those locations: drop-off at the playground gate and collection at nursery. Both the time and the handover point matter when arranging the family day.

Nursery enquiries go directly to nursery@bardfieldacademy.org, where the team can discuss availability and applications. Visits can be arranged through the school office. Paid nursery sessions can be paid for through Arbor; contact the school for current charges.