Wayfield Primary School Nursery

Stories, role-play and children's own interests shape the nursery at Wayfield Primary School in Chatham. Provision includes rooms for two-year-olds and three-year-olds, within the school's early years. This gives the youngest children their own age-focused provision rather than treating nursery as simply an earlier start to school.

The December 2025 inspection judged the early years as Needs attention. Nursery provision for children aged two and three was appropriate, including its support for welfare and wellbeing. Those findings sit alongside serious concerns about safeguarding across the school, which families should weigh carefully.

Small-group learning has a teaching room in the pre-school classrooms. Elsewhere, a role-play area gives children space for imaginative activity, while art activities and a carpeted area add different ways to take part. Learning happens outside as well as indoors. The combination gives children settings for both group work and creative exploration.

Planning draws on individual interests, stories and visits into the community. Within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), the curriculum is intended to develop children's knowledge and skills for their next educational steps. In everyday terms, stories and shared books are part of that learning: in December 2025, children enjoyed listening and responded enthusiastically to characters and events.

Language teaching needs attention. At that inspection, adults did not consistently build learning from children's existing understanding, and vocabulary and phonics received insufficient focus. Work to strengthen conversations had begun, but the early years needed better adult interactions to develop communication. For parents, the useful question is how staff extend a child's words and ideas during ordinary play and stories.

Joining families receive information about expectations and routines, and are invited to explain their child's interests and strengths. In December 2025, this helped staff understand children and recognise needs promptly. Children across the early years were settled and happy, with warm relationships with staff. The nursery describes its team as fully qualified.

For additional needs, families can arrange a meeting with the SEND team through the school office. The SENCO coordinates support and liaison with professionals such as Speech and Language Therapy, and has responsibility for involving parents in reviews of their child's support.

Safeguarding concerns. In December 2025, the school did not meet safeguarding standards and required special measures. School-wide behaviour procedures exposed pupils to harm, including excessive physical force used by staff without suitable training. These are school-level findings, rather than a separate nursery judgement. Before choosing a place, families should scrutinise how children's safety is protected and how concerns are handled.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal route and meet the normal deadline; applications for primary school places go through Medway Council. Treat choosing nursery and securing a school place as separate decisions.

Nursery children use the alleyway gate. Their hours depend on individual sessions, so the school's general start and finish times should not be treated as nursery hours.

To enquire, email admissions@wayfield.medway.sch.uk. A meeting and guided tour can be arranged, giving families an opportunity to discuss the provision and ask questions.