Brockhampton Primary School Forest School Nursery

Outdoor exploration gives Forest School Nursery its character. Children spend much of their time playing and learning in Brockhampton Primary School’s grounds, with provision running from age 2 until they start Reception. This is the school’s own nursery, with an emphasis on discovery through play rather than a day built entirely around adult-led tasks.

The wider school grounds include two Forest School areas, an outdoor classroom, a field and Crooked Village, alongside access to the Bromyard Downs. These are concrete surroundings for the school’s outdoor learning approach; the nursery’s own emphasis is on spending plenty of time outside.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings learning and care together. Here, that means developing language, relationships and physical skills alongside early reading, writing and mathematics, creative expression and understanding the world. Forest School gives this curriculum an outdoor emphasis. Exploring the grounds is part of learning, rather than simply a break from it.

Children choose activities linked to their interests, while small groups and circle time introduce or develop particular ideas. Early writing through mark making, reading, creative activities and social interaction all feature. Adults step in to extend learning, so children have opportunities both to pursue their own discoveries and to work with support. The school uses the Characteristics of Effective Learning to help staff consider how individual children learn.

In October 2022, early-years children used conkers, fir cones and acorns for counting and repeating patterns, and adults demonstrated language effectively. Those examples connect number work and conversation with objects children can handle.

Curriculum and reading. The October 2022 inspection identified insufficient precision about knowledge, skills and vocabulary in some subjects, including early years, leaving gaps in learning; it also found that some take-home books did not fit children’s phonics learning and slowed their progress. For parents, the useful focus is how activities build vocabulary and how home reading supports the sounds children are learning.

Each child has a key worker who supports emotional and physical needs and acts as the family’s nursery contact. The key person system also uses observation and achievable learning targets. That gives parents a particular member of staff to speak with about their child’s development, rather than relying only on general messages.

A limited number of complimentary settling-in sessions are offered, allowing children some introductory time before their usual attendance pattern. In October 2022, nursery children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), received substantial care and support that helped them settle.

Lunch club bridges the morning and afternoon sessions for children attending all day. Black Pepper, based in Malvern, delivers the school’s lunches daily. Meal orders, dietary information and lunch payments go directly through Black Pepper’s service, while nursery fees are paid through ParentPay. Families therefore handle meals separately from nursery payments.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. For September Reception entry at Brockhampton, the application route is Herefordshire Council. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as separate decisions: familiarity with the school does not itself secure admission.

Morning sessions run from 8:30 to 11:30, with afternoons from 12:15 to 15:15. Children staying all day attend lunch club between 11:30 and 12:15. Nursery children can also be booked into wraparound care, giving families another attendance option alongside the two sessions.

Funding includes 15 hours for eligible two-year-olds using a council-issued NEF code, covering nursery sessions but excluding lunch club. Universal funding provides 15 hours from the term after a child turns 3. Eligible three- and four-year-olds can apply for additional funding to reach 30 hours; the code must be renewed every three months and passed to the school office.

Charges are invoiced monthly in arrears after eligible funding is deducted. Contact the school for current charges. The office on 01885 483238 handles enquiries and can arrange a visit; a nursery booking form and parental agreement are also provided.