Bridgewater Primary School Nursery

Three morning hours give Bridgewater’s nursery its basic shape: an 08:30 start and an 11:30 finish, with additional provision run by Rialize. The nursery belongs to Bridgewater Primary School in Berkhamsted, and its class is called Ducklings.

For September 2026, there were up to 40 nursery places for children with birthdays between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2023. That is a nursery intake figure, rather than the capacity of the wider school.

Language and curiosity were clear features of the early years at the November 2022 inspection. Staff matched activities to children’s needs, and children approached learning with interest and pleasure. The emphasis on language helped them express themselves. For parents, that connects learning with something immediately useful: a child being able to communicate.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the curriculum framework here. In the early-years findings from November 2022, the learning environment supported ambitious teaching plans. Activities encouraged children to learn, while staff also helped them understand emotions and other people’s feelings. Learning therefore included both developing knowledge and managing the social demands of being with other children.

The morning nursery totals 15 hours across the week. Rialize provides afternoon nursery provision associated with 30 hours, giving families a separate arrangement to consider alongside the school’s morning session.

Emotional development has a practical place in learning. In November 2022, early-years children were learning to regulate their behaviour and feelings, alongside recognising how others felt. This matters as children learn to take part in a group.

Support for special educational needs and disabilities includes a school SENDCO who works with teachers. Families can contact this role through senco@bridgewater.herts.sch.uk. The SENDCO holds the NASENCo award, providing a qualification specifically connected with coordinating special educational needs support.

Food support operates across the school: the kitchen or Rialize supplies a snack when a child reports hunger or may have missed breakfast. Rialize also runs a nursery lunch club. These are distinct arrangements, so families should keep lunch club separate from the morning nursery session when planning their child’s day.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply again, and Hertfordshire County Council coordinates that separate process. Bridgewater has no influence over which children receive offers.

Apply through the council’s Admissions Department at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/admissions. For the forthcoming application cycle, the school gives 14 January 2027 as the provisional closing date, expressly subject to confirmation by the council. Check the confirmed council deadline before relying on it. Choosing Ducklings should therefore be a decision about the nursery itself; a Reception application remains a separate responsibility.

Morning nursery runs from 08:30 to 11:30. Alongside afternoon provision and nursery lunch club, Rialize provides wraparound care and a holiday club. These options matter for families whose childcare needs extend beyond the morning.

For nursery enquiries, telephone the school office on 01442 871231. Children starting nursery receive a book bag. Uniform support includes pre-loved clothing, supplied free to parents receiving benefits, which can help eligible families with the practical costs of starting.