Waterside Primary Academy Nursery Review

Stories give Waterside Cygnets its clearest character: children hear several each day, can choose books throughout the day and take a Sharing Book home each week. Books are a daily activity, with something for families to enjoy together too.

Cygnets is the nursery at Waterside Primary Academy in Chesham. Two-year-olds are also catered for at the school. Ofsted graded the school's early years provision Good at the inspection on 3 and 4 December 2024; this is an early years judgement within the school inspection, rather than a separate nursery rating.

Enjoying stories is the nursery's main reading focus. Read Write Inc. introduces children to picture prompts associated with sounds, with some sounds introduced later in the nursery year. The sequence matters: children encounter the pictures before moving to the sounds themselves. Several daily stories and continuing access to books keep listening and choosing books alongside that introduction to phonics.

A weekly Sharing Book extends this part of the day into home life. It gives parents and children a specific book to enjoy together, rather than making reading solely a classroom activity. Jigsaw is also used for personal, social and health education from nursery onwards, giving this aspect of learning a named programme alongside the reading approach.

Within the early years foundation stage (EYFS), learning includes playing with other children and choosing resources with adult help. In December 2024, routines were established, children enjoyed learning and playing together, and staff guided their resource choices. These are useful foundations for a young child: a familiar pattern to the day, company during play and help deciding what to use.

Curriculum precision. Some subject content needed clearer sequencing, including what children should learn in the early years. The school also needed more consistent checks on remembered learning across subjects, so misunderstandings could be addressed sooner. These were school-wide improvement actions, rather than findings confined to Cygnets.

Support for additional needs sits within the school's SEND arrangements. The school aims to identify needs early, monitor children's progress and work closely with parents. A qualified special educational needs and disabilities coordinator is part of that structure, with external agencies involved when school support alone cannot meet a child's needs. For families, this provides a route for discussing concerns and coordinating help.

Beyond learning support, a Family Liaison Officer is available Monday to Thursday during term time. Parenting help, financial support and links with external agencies are among the role's responsibilities. This gives families a school contact for difficulties at home as well as questions about learning.

Attending Cygnets does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through Buckinghamshire Council, meeting the January deadline set by the local authority. Nursery enquiries go directly to the school, so the two routes need separate attention. Choosing the nursery should therefore remain a decision about the child's nursery experience, with the Reception application treated as a further step.

Nursery enquiries go to nurserymanager@watersideprimaryacademy.org. The school also accepts requests to book a visit, allowing prospective families to arrange a look around.

Waterside Primary Academy is on Blackhorse Avenue, Chesham, HP5 1QU. For general queries, the school office can be reached on 01494 786608 or at office@watersideprimaryacademy.org.