St Margaret’s Academy Nursery, Bowers Gifford

Bear-hunt storytelling, a muddy walk across the field and harvest donations give St Margaret’s nursery a character that reaches beyond its own rooms. Known as Ladybirds, the nursery is integrated into this Church of England academy in Bowers Gifford, with children joining selected collective worship sessions during the year.

Provision includes children aged three and four. By September 2024, the school had closed its provision for two-year-olds. Ofsted judged early years provision Good at the inspection on 24 and 25 September 2024; that judgement covers the school’s early years, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Sessions combine stories and brief carpet gatherings with phonics activities, play directed through continuous provision and activities led by adults. There is a snack break too. This gives the session several changes of pace, with shared listening alongside opportunities to learn through play.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) informs English planning. In practical terms here, language and early literacy have a clear place in the day: the school emphasises vocabulary development, runs daily nursery phonics sessions using Letters and Sounds, and teaches writing from nursery onwards. In September 2024, nursery children showed enthusiasm for storytelling, including retelling a bear-hunt story. That is a concrete example of children using spoken language to tell a familiar narrative.

Maths also has a daily place in nursery. Numicon and number lines are among the resources used across EYFS, giving number work a practical element alongside spoken explanations.

Learning extends outdoors. Ladybirds have taken part in a sponsored muddy walk on the school field, helped older pupils prepare harvest donations and collected gifts for the Salvation Army Christmas Appeal. These examples connect outdoor activity and helping others with the wider school’s Christian character.

Four qualified support staff work in the nursery. Families are encouraged to visit before their child starts, offering an opportunity to become familiar with the setting before beginning sessions.

Snack forms part of the routine, with a voluntary contribution requested. Children accessing the 30-hour arrangement can remain for lunch, allowing care to continue between the morning and afternoon sessions.

For additional learning needs, the school’s support process brings the class teacher, special educational needs coordinator and parents together to discuss next steps. These can include speech and language support or advice from specialist teachers. Children on the special educational needs register have One Plan meetings at least twice a year, giving families recurring opportunities to discuss targets and support.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet the deadline for their entry year. Treat choosing nursery and applying for Reception as separate decisions.

Little Margaret’s provides transition activity for children who have gained a school place. The programme runs over four to six weeks in the summer before starting school, with a morning or afternoon visit each week. These sessions provide familiarity with school before the September start; they are transition support, rather than an admissions entitlement.

Morning sessions run from 9am to noon, with afternoons from noon to 3pm, during term time only. For families arranging care around work, those session boundaries and the school holidays are the practical starting point.

The funded arrangement includes 15 hours a week for three- and four-year-olds, with 30 hours for eligible families. Lunch attendance is linked to accessing the 30-hour arrangement. Contact the school for current charges.

To enquire or arrange a nursery visit, contact the office on 01268 552176 or email admin.stmargarets@dcvst.org. The school and nursery are on London Road, Bowers Gifford, Basildon, SS13 2DU.