Bearwood Primary and Nursery School: Nursery Review

Big Acorns and Little Acorns give Bearwood’s youngest children their own identity within the school. The nursery occupies Acorn Base and caters for children aged 2–5, placing it within Bearwood Primary and Nursery School on Barons Road in Bournemouth.

Staffing includes a nursery teacher, a senior nursery leader, a deputy base leader and nursery assistants. For children aged 3–4, the minimum staffing ratio is one adult for 13 children; for two-year-olds, it is one for five. Those different ratios recognise the younger children’s greater need for adult care.

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) learning starts with skills children can use in ordinary life. Art introduces making marks and understanding colour, while physical learning develops control of both larger movements and smaller hand movements. These are foundations for expressing ideas and handling practical tasks.

Stories and children’s experiences introduce the difference between past and present. Geography begins close to home, exploring where children live and their immediate surroundings. Technology also features in EYFS learning: children encounter its different uses at school and beyond. Together, these strands connect early learning with a world children already recognise.

Acorn Base has its own classroom, reached through the green gate beside the car park. Named wellies remain at school as part of the nursery kit, giving families one less item to carry each day.

Settling starts with a home visit from the nursery teacher after admission information has arrived. The conversation covers the child’s needs and interests, allowing family knowledge to inform the introduction to nursery. Children who need a gentler start can have settling sessions, and the Early Years SEND team can be contacted where relevant.

Acorn children receive a free daily fruit or vegetable snack. Water bottles brought for classroom use must contain water. These are straightforward routines for families to build into their preparations.

Parents can raise concerns with the class teacher, and individual education plans are reviewed each term with parents, the teacher and the special educational needs coordinator. The school building is mainly on one level, although one room occupies a mezzanine reached by steps.

In January 2025, early years children generally behaved well and knew ways to manage difficulty or emotions. However, adults’ application of behaviour expectations across the school was inconsistent, making consistency an issue for families to consider.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through BCP Council; for September 2027 entry, the deadline is 15 January 2027.

There is a conditional admissions advantage: nursery children eligible for Early Years Pupil Premium fall within the fourth priority group, ahead of other children but behind the preceding three groups. Attendance alone does not confer that priority. Distance decides the order within an oversubscribed group.

Preparation for the move is separate from allocation. During June and July, children spend time in the Reception classroom, first accompanied by parents and then independently. A transition booklet or social story and videos support preparation over summer; additional individual sessions can be arranged for children with SEND.

Morning nursery provision begins at 9:00am and afternoon provision at noon. Collection is at noon or 3:00pm, from the Acorn classroom door. Children must leave with an adult aged at least 18.

Nursery clothing includes a purple jumper or cardigan, a white polo shirt, black joggers, leggings or shorts, and black trainers. The school welcomes visits by appointment through its office. Enquiries can be made on 01202 590703 or by emailing school@bearwood.poole.sch.uk.