Upland Primary School Nursery

Conversation, turn-taking and learning about the wider world give Upland’s early years provision its clearest character. Nursery provision forms part of Upland Primary School in Bexleyheath. Its place within the school matters, but the early years findings are the useful starting point for understanding children’s learning here.

At the Ofsted inspection on 30 and 31 January 2024, early years provision was graded Outstanding. That judgement covered the school’s early years provision rather than nursery alone. The detail behind it is more useful than the label: vocabulary development, opportunities to speak and an emphasis on learning how to interact with other children.

Language was a clear thread through early years learning in January 2024. Children had repeated chances to develop their vocabulary and extend their understanding of the world beyond their immediate experience. For parents, this connects two important parts of early learning: having something to talk about and developing the words to express it.

Physical learning had a concrete starting point too: children learned ball throwing in the early years. This gives a practical example of learning through action, alongside the emphasis on speech and interaction. The activity makes the curriculum easier to picture than a broad statement about physical development would.

Staff also helped children practise conversation, cooperate with one another and wait for a turn. These were learning goals in their own right. A child’s day therefore involved learning how to participate with others as well as developing knowledge and vocabulary.

Social relationships were part of early years learning in January 2024. Children learned about constructive relationships within the classroom, while adults encouraged friendly interaction between children. This gives parents a concrete picture of the social expectations: learning to speak with others, share participation and respond to the people around them.

Children also followed adult directions and familiar classroom routines very closely. For a young child, understanding what happens next and how to take part matters alongside the activity itself. These findings describe the social and routine-based support within early years; they should be read with their January 2024 date in mind.

Attending Upland’s nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the applicable deadline. Choosing the nursery and securing a school place are separate decisions. Treat the Reception application as a further step even when a child already attends nursery.

Upland Primary School is on Church Road, Bexleyheath, DA7 4DG. The school’s telephone number is 02083032175. These contact details identify the school attached to this nursery provision.