Heather Ridge Infant School Nursery

Questioning, making decisions and learning from mistakes are the ambitions that shape Heather Ridge's approach to young children's learning. Its nursery belongs to Heather Ridge Infant School on Martindale Avenue in Heatherside, Camberley. The school aims to develop independence and curiosity, giving families a clear sense of the educational approach surrounding the provision.

Ofsted judged the school's early years provision Good at the inspection on 24 and 25 January 2023. That judgement covers the school's early years provision; it is not a separate nursery rating.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework for foundation-stage learning. In parent terms, this brings together learning to communicate, move and manage feelings with early mathematics, literacy, creativity and understanding the world. These areas make development broader than preparation for reading and writing alone.

Heather Ridge uses topics to connect learning across different subjects. The school aims to encourage children to ask questions, try ideas and learn from mistakes. Its approach includes direct experience, opportunities to make decisions and working with other children. The practical emphasis is on taking part, with independence treated as something children practise.

Teaching can involve an individual child, a group or a class, depending on the teacher's judgement and children's development. That gives the approach scope to combine shared learning with more focused work. The school also encourages children to take responsibility for their learning, linking participation with growing confidence in making choices.

For families whose child needs additional help, the school's SENCO coordinates support and works with parents, teachers and other professionals. Concerns about development can be raised with the teaching team, with the SENCO involved as appropriate. This gives parents a defined route into a discussion about their child's needs.

Support follows a cycle of assessing needs, planning help, putting it into practice and reviewing progress. Parents are involved in discussions, and SEN review meetings take place termly. The purpose is to adjust support as a child's needs change, rather than keep the same intervention indefinitely.

Adaptations across the school include visual resources, changes to seating or classroom layout, quiet spaces and help from learning support assistants. Emotional and social support includes the Thrive Approach, with individual or small-group sessions and a designated Rainbow Room. These are school support arrangements, with provision matched to individual needs; children do not necessarily receive every form of help.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the applicable deadline. Surrey County Council is Heather Ridge's admission authority and provides the application route. Treat the nursery decision and the Reception application as separate tasks, so choosing early education here does not replace planning for school admission.

The school office is the contact point for enquiries: telephone 01276 24918 or email info@heather-ridge.co.uk. Heather Ridge's address is Martindale Avenue, Heatherside, Camberley, Surrey, GU15 1AY. For a discussion about additional needs, the SENCO can also be contacted at senco@heather-ridge.co.uk, giving families a direct route to the team coordinating support.