The FMS Inspection Score is FindMySchool's proprietary analysis based on official Ofsted and ISI inspection reports. It converts ratings into a standardised 1–10 scale for fair comparison across all schools in England.
Disclaimer: The FMS Inspection Score is an independent analysis by FindMySchool. It is not endorsed by or affiliated with Ofsted or ISI. Always refer to the official Ofsted or ISI report for the full picture of a school’s inspection outcome.
Nursery at Fairlight Primary School
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Songs, rhymes and spoken language give Fairlight’s nursery its clearest character. This is the nursery within Fairlight Primary School on St Leonards Road in Brighton, with entry possible from age three, subject to a place being offered. Its term-time pattern suits families seeking nursery sessions within the school calendar.
A start immediately after a third birthday may be possible, but sessions before the funded entitlement begins must be paid for. Timing matters here.
Listening comes before formal reading instruction. At the Ofsted inspection on 4 and 5 June 2024, nursery children practised listening through poetry, singing and rhymes, joining in with enthusiasm. These activities give children repeated opportunities to hear words and participate aloud. The emphasis is on building the language foundations for later learning.
The early years foundation stage (EYFS) curriculum also addresses communication difficulties: children needing help with language were recognised promptly and supported through teaching focused on listening and speech. For parents, that means language development is both a classroom activity and an area where additional needs receive attention.
School Start is the named nursery language intervention. Its 30-week programme covers speech sounds, vocabulary and forming straightforward sentences, giving a concrete shape to that support. The wider school building has three sides around a central playground; this is a nursery within a school site.
Settling begins with a Come and Play invitation after a nursery place has been allocated. That gives children an opportunity to experience the nursery. The Early Years team contacts families following their application to discuss when their child can begin.
For special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), Fairlight’s school-wide approach starts with adapting teaching to the individual child. Support can begin when staff recognise a need, rather than waiting for an EHCP or diagnosis. Families with speech or language concerns should approach their child’s class teacher, who can involve the Inclusion Team.
Care also includes respecting personal boundaries. Fairlight’s physical-contact guidance requires staff to consider each child’s comfort, preferences and needs when offering reassurance. This makes the child’s response part of decisions about touch.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Brighton and Hove City Council’s normal admissions process by the normal deadline.
Attendance at the nursery is not among the Reception priorities listed on Fairlight’s admissions page. Those priorities cover children with care experience, exceptional reasons for attending, sibling links and transfers between linked infant and junior schools; distance decides between applicants within those groups. Choosing the nursery therefore needs to stand on the nursery experience itself, alongside a separate plan for the Reception application.
Sessions run from 9am to noon and noon to 3pm, with bookings made in three-hour blocks. Opening hours are 9am to 3pm during term time. Families needing care across school holidays should plan around that calendar.
Fairlight offers 15 funded hours from the term following a child’s third birthday. Eligible families may receive 30 hours, and their code must reach the school before starting and within the required deadlines. Paid additional sessions may be possible for families who do not qualify for 30 hours. Contact the School Finance Team through the office for current charges.
To request a place, complete the Nursery Admissions form, available through the Nursery Application page or from the school office. Applications are considered weekly, with an email or telephone call when a place becomes available; families then receive a letter asking them to accept the offer. Enquiries can go to 01273 601270 or office@fairlight.brighton-hove.sch.uk.
A place may be offered from the day after their third birthday. Sessions must be paid for until funding begins in the following term.
Morning sessions are 9am to noon and afternoon sessions are noon to 3pm. Sessions must be booked in three-hour blocks, during term time.
School Start is a 30-week nursery intervention covering vocabulary, speech sounds and simple sentences. Discuss concerns with the class teacher, who can involve the Inclusion Team.
After a place is allocated, families are invited to a Come and Play session in the nursery.
No. Nursery attendance does not guarantee a place and is not among the listed Reception priorities. Apply separately through Brighton and Hove City Council’s normal admissions process.
