Carden Nursery and Primary School Nursery Review

A mud kitchen, willow den and bug hotel give Carden’s youngest children plenty to investigate. Outdoor exploration sits alongside an emphasis on conversation, with adults helping children explain their ideas rather than simply finish an activity.

This is the nursery within Carden Nursery and Primary School in Hollingbury, Brighton. The school building has large windows and classroom doors leading to patios; its layout divides different age groups into three linked areas. That brings smaller age-group spaces within a larger school site.

In March 2026, Ofsted judged early years to meet the Expected standard. This judgement covers the school’s early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Language runs through the day. From Nursery onwards, adults demonstrate how to express ideas, introduce vocabulary and encourage children to answer in complete sentences. Conversation during play and everyday routines gives children repeated opportunities to practise speaking and listening.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum organises learning across seven areas, helping children develop knowledge and practical skills together. Carden uses Development Matters to guide its early years teaching. Early English and mathematical vocabulary are introduced in Nursery, so children begin acquiring the language needed for later learning.

Carden Learning Journey makes learning habits memorable through animals. The unicorn represents imagination, while the cat prompts questions and the bee represents working independently and with others. These give young children concrete reminders of how to approach an activity.

Outdoor learning includes a fire circle and digging spaces as well as the mud kitchen and willow den. These are places for open-ended exploration, where children can investigate materials and develop their own ideas. In March 2026, children were applying their knowledge of insects while making bug hotels: play gave them a reason to recall and use what they had learnt.

Stories also generate activities. In February 2023, Nursery used Talk for Writing with We’re Going On A Bear Hunt, following masks along a trail before discovering a parcel containing the book. In December 2022, children made salt-dough decorations and experimented with freeing toy dinosaurs trapped in outdoor ice. These examples connect storytelling, making and practical problem-solving.

Settling involves learning everyday routines. In March 2026, early years children adapted quickly and were becoming more independent with snacks and organising the classroom. Small responsibilities give children opportunities to manage tasks for themselves.

Regular communication between staff and families supports children’s learning and wellbeing. Alongside the nursery teaching role, an intervention teacher works in Nursery, and an inclusion mentor works with children from Nursery through the school. For parents, this means support includes roles beyond classroom teaching.

Attending Carden’s nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal school admissions process, managed by Brighton and Hove Local Authority, and meet the applicable deadline. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as two separate decisions.

The school office handles enquiries and can arrange a visit. Contact admin@carden.brighton-hove.sch.uk or call 01273 916606. Carden is on County Oak Avenue, Brighton, BN1 8LU. A visit offers an opportunity to see how the nursery’s indoor spaces connect with its outdoor learning areas.