Limes Farm Infant School and Nursery: Nursery Review

Language, number and children’s own interests give this nursery its educational character. In October 2022, early years learning combined these priorities with routines that children understood and followed. The emphasis was on building the foundations for learning.

The nursery belongs to Limes Farm Infant School and Nursery on Limes Avenue in Chigwell. Its place within an infant school makes the distinction between learning continuity and admission to Reception especially important for families.

Speech and language were a focus of nursery learning in October 2022. Across the early years, activities were chosen around children’s interests, alongside work on language and number. For parents, that means an approach connecting what catches a child’s attention with the skills they are developing, rather than treating those interests as separate from learning.

Diwali activities provided one concrete example of early years children exploring cultural celebrations that October. Established routines and clear expectations also shaped their experience. Together, these details show both the learning content and the structure surrounding it: children encountered new ideas within familiar patterns.

At school level, outdoor learning areas have been developed with mental and spiritual health as their purpose. These sit alongside a wellbeing room for children. Both are physical features of the wider school, rather than a description of a particular nursery session.

Curriculum leadership. In October 2022, early years leaders were new to evaluating the curriculum. They needed further training and time to develop that work. This was a specific improvement priority alongside the positive start that the early years curriculum provided.

Trauma Perceptive Practice (TPP) is the behaviour approach used across Epping Forest Schools Partnership Trust schools. It starts from the belief that most behaviour is driven by needs and emphasises relationships, helping children manage their responses and repairing relationships after difficulties. The trust aims to make adult responses supportive while retaining consequences. For families, this explains the thinking behind responses to distress or challenging behaviour.

Each trust school has a TPP lead, with leads meeting regularly to share practice. The approach’s values include compassion, kindness, hope and belonging. These are the trust’s stated principles for working with children and adults, rather than an inspection judgement about nursery care.

Family and Child Support Services (FaCSS) provides another potential support route within the trust. Its services include family support, play therapy, counselling for children and music therapy. If the school considers a service suitable, it discusses this with the family first. A referral follows with parental consent, using information gathered with the school to identify appropriate support. Access therefore begins with a discussion about the child or family’s needs.

Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place at Limes Farm. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the applicable deadline. Keep that application separate from the decision to use the nursery: familiarity with the school should never be treated as an offer of a place.

The school’s address is Limes Avenue, Chigwell, IG7 5LP. For nursery enquiries, telephone 02085011115. School-specific INSET days vary across the trust, so use the school’s term dates when planning family arrangements.