Kingsfield Primary School Nursery

Talking about their work, concentrating on activities and learning to cooperate: these are the clearest features of Kingsfield’s early years provision. The nursery belongs to Kingsfield Primary School on Burnsfield Street in Chatteris, giving families a school-based starting point for early education.

At the inspection on 30 June and 1 July 2022, Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.

Language gives the early years learning its character. In June and July 2022, adults encouraged children to explain what they were doing, helping them practise listening and expressing their ideas. For a young child, an activity therefore becomes an opportunity to develop conversation as well as complete a task.

Activities also encouraged sustained attention and thought. Children gained confidence and learned to work together, combining individual development with the social demands of sharing learning with others. These are useful foundations for the next stage of education. The early years environment supported purposeful learning, with adults selecting activities to engage children’s minds. The emphasis was on participation: talking, thinking and cooperating formed connected parts of the learning experience.

Support for additional needs sits within the school’s SEND arrangements. Teachers assess children’s progress with backing from senior leaders, while the SEND coordinator works with families on access to learning. Support addresses communication, learning, emotional needs and physical or sensory needs. For parents, this provides a route to discuss how teaching should be adapted to their child.

Cambridgeshire’s SENDIASS offers families confidential, impartial advice. That gives parents another place to discuss concerns about special educational needs or disability. Physical access matters too: the main school building has one storey, the front entrance is accessible, and a ramp serves the lower entrance beside the wraparound care building and Children’s Centre.

Children younger than five can have free milk each day. For welfare concerns, the school has a designated safeguarding lead supported by deputy leads; families can contact the safeguarding team directly by email.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal Reception admissions process, meeting the deadline for their child’s entry year. Cambridgeshire Local Authority coordinates Reception applications for the Active Learning Trust and allocates places.

For the 2025–2026 admissions cycle, nursery attendance conferred no priority. After children with an Education, Health and Care Plan naming the school, the oversubscription order covered looked-after and previously looked-after children, qualifying siblings, then other children by distance. Those criteria concern allocation, rather than how familiar a child already feels with Kingsfield. Families should therefore treat choosing nursery and obtaining a Reception place as separate decisions.

The school office is the contact for enquiries: email office@kingsfield.cambs.sch.uk or telephone 01354 692323. Kingsfield’s address is Burnsfield Street, Chatteris, PE16 6ET.

Safeguarding concerns can go directly to kfsafeguarding@kingsfield.cambs.sch.uk, giving families a distinct contact route for matters affecting their child’s welfare.