Junior King's School Nursery Review

Little Barn gives the nursery its own purpose-built home within Junior King's Pre-Prep in Sturry. Play, specialist teaching and daily exploration of the school grounds shape the provision: a school nursery with a distinct space for its youngest children.

Children can start in the term of their third birthday, attending part time or full time. In February 2024, ISI found that early years children made good progress across their learning, with planning shaped around their interests. That finding covers the school's early years provision rather than a separate nursery judgement.

Purposeful play carries the learning. The early years curriculum connects children's interests with activities that develop communication, number understanding and relationships. In February 2024, children prepared for a party by creating decorations and composing invitations. This gives early writing a practical purpose, while conversations with teachers and assistants help children express ideas and explain what they need.

Physical challenges sit alongside creative work. February 2024 examples included cake baking and an obstacle course, linking practical activity with physical development and persistence. A daily vote to choose a story also gave children experience of making a collective decision and accepting its result. Fairness becomes something they practise.

Specialists teach music, French and dance across the Pre-Prep, including nursery. Singing and movement are central to early years music, with instruments from different parts of the world adding opportunities to explore sound. Outdoors, nursery children use the grounds each day for exploration and creative activity. Forest Park, the Pre-Prep's fenced woodland, supports a rolling programme in which each year group spends a term exploring the woods. Seasonal change supplies another starting point for learning.

A lead teacher works with qualified assistants. Class teachers and teaching assistants connect families with the Pre-Prep's pastoral team, supported by senior staff who discuss pastoral matters weekly. Parents can email their child's class teacher about learning or wellbeing, giving them a direct route to raise concerns.

In February 2024, early years staff helped children recognise and manage emotions and develop friendships. Children were taught to seek help from their classroom teachers and assistants, known collectively as the lifeboat team, when feelings became overwhelming. That gives a young child a recognisable group of adults to approach.

The Learning Support department uses a graduated response to additional needs: adapted tasks or classroom assistance may be followed by specialist teaching individually or in small groups. For children joining the school, an additional day or part day with their new class and teachers offers an introduction before entry. School meals are included in termly fees; rotating menus and seasonal produce provide variety.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Contact the Registrar to confirm the Reception admission process for your child. The Reception intake is in September following a child's fourth birthday. Familiarity with the school should not be mistaken for a confirmed place.

Sessions extend from three mornings a week, including lunch, to five full days. Opening hours are 8:00am to 6:00pm, and parents discuss their session choices with staff. This gives families different attendance patterns within the same nursery.

The nursery accepts Government Nursery Scheme Vouchers for 15 hours of free entitlement. Contact the Bursary for current charges. Admissions enquiries go to registrar@junior-kings.co.uk or +44 (0)1227 714019. Registrar-led visits take approximately one hour, with weekday tour appointments and parking on site.