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Nursery at Finchingfield St John the Baptist CofE Primary Academy
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Real glass jugs, locks and keys, and child-sized cleaning tools give this nursery its distinctive character. Montessori principles shape the activities: children practise useful everyday tasks, explore materials and receive instruction matched to their development. Independence is an explicit aim, with practical opportunities to exercise it.
The nursery has its own class within Finchingfield St John the Baptist CofE Primary Academy, a Church of England school. There are 14 nursery children on roll, rather than 14 advertised places. Children can join from the term following their third birthday.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines learning to communicate, manage feelings and move confidently with early reading, number, creativity and discovering the world. Here, Montessori gives those aims a concrete form. Wooden furniture and accessible shelving let children reach materials themselves; the Home Corner provides somewhere to apply the practical skills they have rehearsed.
Pouring, threading and using tools build coordination alongside everyday competence. Sand and water invite exploration through touch. Sound cylinders encourage children to compare what they hear, while sorting shells, conkers and pebbles introduces differences in size, texture and weight. These are purposeful activities with things children can handle.
Number work starts with games and rhymes, then moves into physical representations of quantity. Wooden spindle boxes make numbers tangible, and the nursery begins counting with wooden three frames. Early literacy includes listening games, alliteration and stories; children who show readiness and interest can construct simple words using engraved letter stones. Painting, collage and sculpture provide other ways to express ideas. An outdoor area gives children room for larger movements and exploration.
In November 2024, Ofsted found that nursery and early-years learning placed strong emphasis on language, everyday skills and independence, with adults using conversation to extend vocabulary. Children were confident in communicating their learning. That finding supports the emphasis on talk running through these activities.
A lead nursery practitioner prepares activities, observes children and provides guidance. Montessori support also comes from a lead practitioner at the partner school in Stisted. This gives the nursery a defined approach to adult support, alongside its carefully arranged materials.
Families can request a conversation or meeting through the school office. Arbor also handles messages, contact details and consents, keeping routine communication and administration together. For special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the school has a SENDCO and assistant SENCo. One Plans are reviewed each term, with support strategies and intended outcomes considered together with families. Additional adult support depends on the resources available.
Lunch can be purchased through Arbor, with meal selections made ahead of time, or children can bring a packed lunch. Packed lunches must exclude nuts. This gives families a choice while making advance planning part of the routine.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Essex County Council’s coordinated admissions process. For September 2027 entry, the application window runs from 4 November 2026 until 15 January 2027. Keep that application separate from nursery bookings and funding paperwork.
Familiarity does support the educational transition. Nursery and Reception classrooms use similar arrangements and materials, and practitioners liaise as children move between them. Children can recognise how activities are presented, easing the change of classroom. That continuity concerns the learning experience; it does not secure admission.
Morning sessions run from 8.45am to 11.45am, and afternoons from noon to 3pm. An all-day option is also offered. Families can tailor the number of morning or afternoon sessions to their needs.
Universal funding provides 15 hours a week across 38 term-time weeks; eligible working families can receive 30 hours. A funding form must be completed every term, and extended entitlement requires an eligibility code with reconfirmation every three months. Ask the school for current charges.
To arrange a nursery tour, call 01371 810423. Nursery enquiries go to nursery@finchingfieldacademy.com.
Children can join from the term after their third birthday.
Mornings run from 8.45am to 11.45am and afternoons from noon to 3pm. All-day attendance is also offered, and the number of morning or afternoon sessions can be tailored.
Children use accessible materials and real objects for practical tasks, sensory exploration and early number work. Adults observe their development and provide guidance and instruction.
School meals can be purchased through Arbor and chosen in advance. Children can alternatively bring a nut-free packed lunch.
No. Families must apply separately through Essex County Council. For September 2027 entry, applications run from 4 November 2026 to 15 January 2027.
