Richard Whittington Primary School Nursery

A morning, an afternoon or a longer day: Richard Whittington’s nursery gives families four attendance options within a school nursery class. There are 30 places, described as 60 morning and afternoon sessions. The nursery is part of Richard Whittington Primary School in Bishop’s Stortford.

For the September 2026 intake, entry was for children whose birthdays fell between 1st September 2022 and 31st August 2023. The main intake is September after a child turns three. That gives the class a defined annual starting point, with later entry dependent on space.

The timetable offers two distinct ways to experience the nursery: a three-hour session or an all-day place. Morning attendance runs from 8:45am to 11:45am; afternoons begin at 12:30pm and finish at 3:30pm. For families choosing a shorter session, the morning and afternoon options provide different ways to fit nursery into the day.

Longer attendance comes in two forms. One runs from 8:30am to 3:30pm and is labelled 35 hours; the other runs from 8:45am to 3:00pm and is labelled 30 hours. These are separate attendance options, so the start and collection times matter as much as the weekly label. Nursery operates on weekdays during term time. All-day places are limited.

Home visits are arranged for nursery children, giving families contact with the school. Families can also book an appointment to look around the nursery during the school day.

Family wellbeing support includes resources from Young Minds and Winston’s Wish, alongside material about emotional regulation and bereavement. Families experiencing bereavement are invited to contact the school if they would welcome support. These are school-level routes for families to use, rather than a description of a nursery classroom programme.

Attending this nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Parents must make a separate school application through the normal admissions process. Reception applications go through Hertfordshire County Council’s online route, with a deadline of 15th January.

For 2025/2026, nursery attendance did not confer Reception priority. The criteria covered looked-after children, medical or social need, siblings, nearest school and distance. Keep that admissions question separate from choosing a nursery session: a longer nursery day does not secure a school place.

The first 15 hours of all-day attendance are covered by universal nursery funding. Further hours can be funded through the 30-hour entitlement for working parents who qualify, or paid for. Ask the school for current charges before choosing additional hours.

Nursery applications are handled directly by the school. For an in-year place or a transfer from another nursery, contact the office. Tours can also be arranged during the school day by calling 01279 657778 or emailing admin@whittington.herts.sch.uk. An appointment gives families a practical next step before applying.