Patcham Infant School Nursery Review

A separate nursery building, outdoor space of its own and access to the wider school grounds give Caterpillar Class a distinct place within Patcham Infant School. The nursery takes up to 25 children. Its teacher is supported by a nursery nurse and a learning support assistant, combining a classroom teaching role with staff supporting children’s learning and care.

Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 23 and 24 November 2022. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Play provides the starting point. Teachers use Development Matters to plan within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), the framework covering early learning and development. Planning follows children’s interests while also addressing the skills they need next. Children can use indoor and outdoor areas during the day, giving their exploration room to extend beyond the classroom.

The curriculum brings together physical development, relationships and communication with early mathematics, literacy, creativity and understanding the world. In practice, children explore rhyme and experiment with words, investigate number patterns and tackle practical problems. Art, movement, music and pretend play provide ways to express ideas and feelings. Using materials, trying experiments and encountering plants and creatures give learning a practical basis.

Outdoor learning has a defined place in the year: every class takes part for two half terms. Caterpillar Class has planted saplings with Sussex Wildlife Trust, turning contact with nature into something children can help shape. Dedicated nursery outdoor spaces and the school grounds provide different settings for this work.

In November 2022, early years children were enthusiastic about sharing favourite stories and were developing independence through familiar routines, sharing equipment and helping clear away toys. The inspection also identified a weakness affecting early years: teachers did not consistently establish what children understood before moving to new ideas. For parents, that makes checking understanding an important point alongside the emphasis on exploration.

Communication includes Makaton gestures and signs, giving children visual information alongside speech. For children needing additional help, the class teacher and Inclusion Leader decide on support. Families receive an intervention overview explaining targets, the support planned, who will provide it and ways to help at home. This gives parents a concrete basis for discussing their child’s progress.

The March 2026 SEND policy describes monitoring nursery development in communication, physical skills and social and emotional development, with support planned where children are well below age expectations. Parents can discuss concerns with the teacher or Inclusion Coordinator throughout the year. Accessible changing facilities and a toilet, ramps and a stair lift are features of the wider school building.

The school has three trained designated safeguarding leads whom families can contact about concerns. In November 2022, school-wide safeguarding arrangements were effective, although decision records needed fuller detail; this shortcoming was not putting children at risk. That concern belongs to the school’s safeguarding systems rather than a separate nursery assessment.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process. Patcham’s admissions page directs parents to Brighton & Hove’s school-place application service. Treat that application as a separate task from choosing nursery sessions.

Preparation for changing classes is a different matter. The SEND Information Report describes a morning when children meet their next teacher in the new setting, staff discussions before transfer and a meeting for parents. Children with additional needs or anxieties receive extra transition support. The SEND policy allows individually planned preparation, including extra visits and transition books. These arrangements help children prepare for change; they do not secure admission.

Three attendance patterns divide the week differently. Option 1 covers Monday and Tuesday, 9am to 3pm, followed by Wednesday, 8.45am to 11.45am. Option 2 begins on Wednesday, 12.15pm to 3pm, continues on Thursday, 9am to 3pm, and finishes on Friday, 8.45am to 3pm. Option 3 runs Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm, with funding for eligible working parents.

The nursery describes these as ways to use 15 or 30 funded hours. The split-week patterns make Wednesday the practical detail to check when arranging family routines. To enquire or arrange a visit, telephone the school on 01273 509766. The nursery is on Highview Avenue South in Patcham, Brighton.