Old Bexley Church of England School Nursery

Early learning begins inside Old Bexley Church of England School, where the nursery is part of the provision for children from age three. This is school-attached early years provision rather than a separately registered nursery. Its Hurst Road address places nursery children on the same school site, giving families one setting to become familiar with before statutory school age.

The strongest independent evidence concerns the educational and social foundations. Ofsted's May 2023 inspection judged the school's early years provision good. That judgement belongs to the early years provision specifically, rather than being borrowed from the whole-school outcome.

The early years curriculum begins with routines, relationships and purposeful learning. In May 2023, inspectors found that children learned to share and take turns from the early years. They also recorded that children were taught the routines and social behaviours needed to behave well, treated others with kindness and respect, and generally followed expectations. For a three-year-old, those habits make group learning more manageable and help play with other children become cooperative.

There is also a curriculum caveat. Leaders had not identified the knowledge children should learn in enough detail across every curriculum area, including early years. Knowledge therefore developed less securely in some subjects and was harder to recall. Families should ask how the current nursery sequence turns the Early Years Foundation Stage areas into day-to-day activities and how staff revisit learning over time.

Safety practice received a clear early-years-specific finding. Adults in early years knew how to keep younger children safe, within safeguarding arrangements found effective in May 2023. Staff training covered recognising signs that a child might be at risk, while concerns were followed up promptly and appropriately.

Kindness is taught as part of the everyday routine, not treated as an optional extra. Children learn to share, take turns and play together. These are practical building blocks for children joining a larger group for the first time. Families can use an enquiry to discuss settling arrangements, the key-person approach, communication, meals, toileting and support for additional needs in relation to their own child.

Attendance at this nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Nursery and Reception admissions are separate, so families must make a fresh Reception application through the local authority process. For September 2026 entry, Bexley opened applications on 1 September 2025 and set 15 January 2026 as the closing date, with online application presented as the usual route.

A familiar school site and established routines may support the practical transition, but they are not an admissions entitlement. Families should check the admission arrangements applying to their child's entry year and rank preferences on that basis.

The nursery is at Old Bexley Church of England School, Hurst Road, Bexley, DA5 3JR, and serves children from age three. Families should contact the school for the current session pattern, funded-entitlement arrangements, booking options, clothing expectations and collection procedures. Those operational details matter because a workable weekly pattern is as important as the educational offer.