Lawford Mead Primary & Nursery: Nursery Review

Little Willows gives Lawford Mead’s nursery its own identity within the school’s early years provision. Based on Trent Road in Chelmsford, the nursery occupies the ground floor, alongside the other early years classrooms. Children therefore begin their school experience within the main school building rather than in a separate setting.

A class teacher works with learning support assistants. This puts the nursery within the school’s classroom support structure, with a SENCo coordinating provision for children who need additional help.

Play, singing and rhymes are the building blocks of language here. At the inspection on 25 and 26 March 2025, Ofsted found that nursery children developed strong early communication skills through these activities. The emphasis is on learning to communicate through participation: play and familiar songs give young children ways to practise language.

Sessions divide into a morning and an afternoon, each with its own start and finish. This gives families two distinct attendance windows. Inside, the ground-floor classroom places nursery learning within the school’s early years accommodation; classroom entrances allow wheelchair access, an important practical feature for children with mobility needs.

Settling begins before a child joins the class. Nursery staff visit children and parents at home, giving families an opportunity to discuss concerns ahead of the start. Staff continue working with parents during the child’s time in nursery, so those first conversations form the beginning of an ongoing relationship.

Sharing and taking turns are explicitly taught. Nursery staff aim to help children handle disagreements by demonstrating what to do and guiding them through conflicts. Where behaviour causes concern, staff and parents work together. For a young child still learning how to play alongside others, the focus is on developing those skills.

Additional needs have a clear starting point: parents should raise concerns with the class teacher. Support can involve classroom resources or adult help, with a SENCo involved when further planning is needed. Parents contribute to personalised support, and termly meetings review progress and next steps. That gives families a continuing role in decisions about their child’s support.

Morning snacks are provided for children in early years. For communication beyond individual discussions, families receive an emailed school update each Thursday, and longer conversations with teachers can be arranged by appointment.

Attending nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. For the 2027-2028 intake, nursery attendance carries no admission priority. Families must make a separate application to the council where they live, including when their preferred school is in another council area. Applications run online from November to January and must reach the relevant council before its January deadline.

Preparation for the move is a separate matter. Nursery staff exchange information with Reception colleagues, and the nursery teacher works with the SENCo where additional needs are apparent. Children joining the new intake also have opportunities to visit school before their September start. These arrangements help staff prepare for children’s needs; they do not change how places are allocated.

Morning nursery runs from 8:45am to 11:45am; the afternoon session is 12:30pm to 3:30pm. Use those nursery timings when planning collection, rather than the main school’s timetable.

For nursery enquiries, contact the school office on 01245 354134 or email admin@lawfordmead.essex.sch.uk. School viewings with your child can be arranged by appointment. Families are asked to use pedestrian entrances, keep the entrance area on Trent Road clear and avoid entering the car park. This makes the approach to the building part of the collection and drop-off planning.