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Nursery at Livingstone Primary 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Play, children’s own ideas and learning to get along shape Puffins, Livingstone Primary School’s pre-school in Bedford. This is the school’s nursery provision for three- and four-year-olds, with entry from the term following a child’s third birthday. Personal and social development takes a central place alongside early number work, phonics introductions and making marks.
The setting sits within Livingstone’s Clapham Road school site. Ofsted judged early years provision Good at the inspection on 8 and 9 March 2023; that judgement covers the school’s early years rather than a separately inspected nursery.
Children’s interests help steer the learning. Puffins combines exploration and play with opportunities to question, reason and solve problems, so early learning involves trying ideas rather than simply following adult instructions. Its Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) planning brings together early learning and personal development: making marks, beginning to explore numbers and sounds, and building the skills to learn alongside other children.
Stories and themes give this work a focus. The school describes a spring theme called Land of imagination and an animal theme for the first half of a summer term, including a planned Ark Farm visit. These are examples of how topics connect imaginative learning with the wider world, rather than a promise of a forthcoming event.
An additional upstairs room extends the space children can use, while outdoor learning also features in Puffins’ plans. Messy play is part of the experience. Across early years, number learning includes rhymes, songs and practical activities before children move to physical maths equipment. That gives children several ways to explore numbers.
The 1 Decision programme supports the EYFS work on emotions, friendships and independence. Discussing situations gives children a way to practise recognising feelings and thinking about their actions. Ofsted’s March 2023 early-years findings give parents reassurance about children’s communication and adjustment to group learning.
Puffins has a pre-school manager and assistants, including roles with individual support responsibilities. Beyond the nursery team, the school’s nurture team brings together the SENDCo, a family support worker, a Pupil Premium Champion and a Forest School/nurture lead. Calm spaces across the school site are used for interventions, providing a physical setting for that support.
Families can share photographs of activities outside school through the Puffins email address, creating a link between home experiences and classroom learning. The class page also directs parents to ERIC toilet-training support and speech-development resources. For children learning English as an additional language, the school encourages families to share their language development and earlier educational experiences to help with settling.
Attending Puffins does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process. Livingstone directs school applications to Bedford Borough’s online admissions service.
Preparation and admission are separate questions. Puffins provides a BBC Bitesize starting-school guide for families approaching Reception, offering a resource for discussing the change with their child.
Puffins offers 15 hours each week, with 30 hours for parents who qualify for funding. Its class page gives morning hours of 8:45–11:40 and afternoon hours of 12:30–15:25. The About Us timetable gives different finish times, 11:45 and 15:30, and a full day of 8:45–15:30. Confirm the applicable collection time when arranging attendance.
Request a pre-school application form at preschool@livingstoneprimary.co.uk. Children should bring named spare clothes and a coat each day; bottles should contain only water. Before booking breakfast or after-school club for a pre-school child, families must speak with the school office.
Children can begin in the term after their third birthday. The pre-school serves three- and four-year-olds.
The class page offers 15 hours per week and 30 hours for parents who qualify for funding.
Puffins links play to children’s ideas, with introductions to phonics, numbers and mark-making alongside personal, social and emotional development.
No. Families must apply separately for Reception through the normal admissions process. Livingstone links families to Bedford Borough’s online admissions service.
Email preschool@livingstoneprimary.co.uk to request an application form.
