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 Ash Cartwright and Kelsey Church of England 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Messy play, a forest area and family photographs in the Home Corner give Fledglings its character. This is the nursery at Ash Cartwright and Kelsey Church of England Primary School in Ash, for children aged 3 years and older. Its place within the school's Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) unit brings a shared approach to learning indoors and outside.
Staffing combines a full-time nursery teacher and a full-time teaching assistant with two part-time assistants sharing a role. Children work with the team rather than being assigned an individual keyworker. That distinction matters for families who prefer one named adult to coordinate their child's care.
Children's interests help shape the day. During daily Child Initiated Learning, they choose play indoors and outdoors while adults observe, support their discoveries and plan what to introduce next. Free-flow activities sit alongside adult-led learning and activities requested by children, giving the day both choice and direction.
The EYFS brings together early learning and care. Here, communication, physical development and learning to manage feelings and relationships receive emphasis, alongside mathematics, literacy, creative expression and understanding the world. Staff use observation to respond to children's interests and development rather than treating everyone as ready for the same next step.
Outdoor learning includes a forest area used in different weather conditions. The nursery garden and messy activities make spare clothes, socks and named wellies practical essentials. A Home Corner displays family photographs, connecting the play space with people children know.
Older nursery children take part in small-group Foundations for Phonics sessions. Nursery rhymes, listening to sounds and phonics games prepare them for later reading and writing. Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised is the school's phonics programme.
Settling begins with familiar territory. First-term topics focus on children themselves and their local surroundings, giving them something recognisable to explore. The early-years team emphasises children feeling secure and settled.
Tapestry online journals share photographs and observations with parents, making children's learning visible beyond the nursery session. Minor accidents are communicated at collection where possible and also recorded on Tapestry. Parents can speak with nursery staff or telephone the office to arrange a conversation.
For SEND concerns, the school's process starts with a discussion with the class teacher, followed by agreed strategies and review. The SENCO supports this work. Where SEND support is needed, an assess, plan, do, review cycle keeps provision under review rather than leaving an initial plan untouched.
Lunch falls within the afternoon session. Funded education excludes lunch; meals carry an additional charge unless a child qualifies for a free school meal, with that exemption applying to full-day attendance rather than a single session. Breakfast Club provides breakfast, while the Flocks' Nest after-school club serves a snack. Both include toothbrushing.
Attending Fledglings does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. The application route is Kent County Council's primary school admissions service. Treat choosing nursery and applying for school as separate decisions.
Funded morning sessions run from 9am to noon and funded afternoons from noon to 3pm, across 38 term-time weeks. Eligible families using 30 funded hours can take full days from 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, subject to availability. The nursery also offers 15 funded hours. Eligibility codes for the extended entitlement require revalidation every 3 months before the beginning of each new term.
The nursery's daily routine gives an earlier morning start of 8.35am, with collection at 3pm. Universal funded hours are fixed across each Autumn, Spring or Summer period; adjustments can only be made at the beginning of the next such period. Additional hours are charged separately; contact the school for current charges.
Nursery children may use Breakfast Club and the Flocks' Nest when staff and families agree they can cope with the longer day. The latter occupies a purpose-built lodge and runs until 5.45pm. Enquiries go through the school office on 01304 812539; visits can be arranged by telephone.
Fledglings caters for children aged 3 years and older.
No. Reception requires a separate application through the normal admissions process. Kent County Council's primary school admissions service is the application route.
Morning sessions are 9am to noon and afternoon sessions noon to 3pm, over 38 term-time weeks. Full days from 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, are offered to families qualifying for 30 funded hours, subject to availability.
The nursery does not assign individual keyworkers. Its teacher and teaching assistants work with children across the group.
Yes, when staff and families agree that the child can cope. Breakfast Club starts at 7.45am, and the Flocks' Nest after-school club runs until 5.45pm. These services carry additional charges.
