Hormead First School Nursery Review

Songs, stories and rhymes give Hormead’s youngest children a language-rich start to school life. Preschool welcomes children from age 2, with Nursery starting from age 3, within Hormead Church of England (VA) First School in Great Hormead. The groups are named Hoglets for Preschool and Hedgehogs for Nursery.

Early years provision received a Good judgement at the Ofsted inspection on 23 and 24 May 2024. This covers the school’s early years provision, rather than a separate nursery inspection.

Early reading begins here through listening and joining in: nursery children hear stories, sing songs and explore rhymes. These activities give families a concrete picture of the learning, with spoken language and books providing the starting point.

In May 2024, the curriculum had been organised to accommodate two-year-olds and their needs. Children in early years also became familiar with daily routines quickly. For a young child starting group care, that combination matters: learning takes account of their age, while repeated routines make the day more predictable.

A new nursery and playground have been announced, with construction described as underway. Treat this as a development announcement rather than confirmation of a completed facility.

Each child has a key person drawn from the Early Years Practitioners. That adult concentrates on the child’s needs during settling and is the first contact for questions or concerns. Parents can remain with their child for as long as needed, and staff contact families if a child is distressed or struggling to settle. Separation can take time.

Settling sessions include an opportunity to complete paperwork with nursery staff about the child’s needs. Returning this before the start helps the team prepare. A home visit may also be recommended where a child has specific needs or where it could help them settle; one or two Early Years Practitioners visit so the child can begin recognising staff in familiar surroundings.

In May 2024, children with SEND received effective help during lessons in early years. For families discussing additional needs, the SEND coordinator can be contacted through the school office or at senco@hormead.herts.sch.uk.

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 the September 2026 intake, applications went through Hertfordshire School Admissions online, with an application window from 1 November to 15 January. That cycle is now past. Choosing nursery and applying for Reception are separate decisions.

Visits can be arranged by calling 01763 289201 or emailing admin@hormead.herts.sch.uk. A Register of Interest form can be collected from the school office and is used to join the waiting list.

When a space becomes available, families receive an offer and discuss the days and sessions they would like. An offer must be accepted within 5 working days; requesting a later start returns the child to the waiting list, and the space may be offered to someone else.