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Nursery at Westbourne House School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Woodland problem-solving, songs and outdoor exploration give Westbourne House’s nursery its character. For the nursery’s 2–4 age band, this is an introduction to school built around exploration, with gardens, a sports hall and the school pool extending the places where learning happens. The admission policy gives a starting age of 2½; families considering an earlier start should confirm the entry age with admissions.
The nursery sits within Westbourne House School in Chichester. In October 2025, it comprised two Nursery classes. Its outdoor emphasis has substance: children tackle practical problems in the woods, practise listening to one another and suggest their own solutions. That puts conversation alongside physical exploration.
The Early Years Foundation Stage combines learning to communicate, manage feelings and move confidently with early number work, literacy, creativity and discovery. Here, those strands take practical forms. Children count through cooking, grow vegetables and flowers, and explore clay, paint and play dough. The Forest and Secret Garden provide outdoor settings for investigating the world around them.
Read Write Inc. introduces awareness of sounds; blending, spelling and letter formation follow where appropriate. Learning is also social. At the ISI inspection of 14 to 16 October 2025, early-years adults used questions requiring more than a short answer and demonstrated speech to develop children’s communication. Clear routines helped children switch activities, while practical tasks sustained their interest.
Weekly nursery music lessons include instruments, songs and experiments with rhythm. Dressing up and pretend play add opportunities to express ideas, and children perform a Christmas nativity for their families. Physical activity takes children into the gardens and sports hall for balancing, ball play and baby yoga. This gives movement a place alongside imaginative and creative play.
A key worker or class teacher provides the main individual support in the younger years. Before starting, children spend time with their future classmates, helping make the group familiar. Families joining for September receive parent portal access in August and join their year group’s WhatsApp group, giving them practical connections before the first day.
Many nursery children stay for a home-cooked lunch. Bespoke meals cater for dietary needs that the main menu cannot meet; gluten-free and dairy-free alternatives are offered, and menus exclude nuts and sesame. In October 2025, adults supervised early-years eating, all early-years teaching and support staff had suitable paediatric first aid training, and a SEND leader regularly worked with children and teachers in the early years. These are concrete supports for daily care and individual needs.
School-wide safeguarding was effective in October 2025, although its policy needed updating and was corrected during the inspection. Missing complaints-count information was also supplied before the inspection ended. The recommended next step was to keep statutory information accurate and up to date.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Contact the school’s admissions team to confirm the requirements for moving into Reception. Families should keep the admissions decision separate from the familiar surroundings their child already knows.
Preparation includes weekly swimming in the school pool during the third term of the final nursery year. Becoming accustomed to that routine supports the move into Reception; it does not secure admission.
Attendance starts at a minimum of three mornings each week for the youngest children, increasing to four in the final nursery year. Options include all-day attendance, every morning, or mornings with lunch. Pre-Nursery attendance is flexible, with other session combinations arranged through the Bursar. Many nursery children also use wraparound care.
The school accepts 15 funded childcare hours from the term after a child turns three. Nursery lunch is included in the termly fee. Ask the school for current charges when choosing a pattern.
Uniform is optional for Pre-Nursery and Nursery. Pack labelled spare clothes, wellington boots, waterproof trousers and a hooded waterproof coat: outdoor learning needs practical kit. For enquiries, call 01243 782739 or email admissions@westbournehouse.org. Personal nursery tours can be booked during the school week.
The nursery’s age band is 2–4, while the admission policy gives a starting age of 2½. Confirm the entry age with admissions if you are considering an earlier start.
The minimum is three mornings a week for the youngest children, rising to four in their final nursery year.
The school accepts 15 hours of funded childcare from the term after your child turns three.
No. Nursery attendance does not guarantee admission to Reception. Contact the school’s admissions team to confirm the requirements for moving into Reception.
No. Pre-Nursery and Nursery children do not have to wear school uniform, but they need labelled spare clothing and outdoor kit.
