Lexden Springs School Nursery Review

Individual needs shape the starting point at Lexden Springs: its early years provision sits within a specialist school serving children with severe or profound and complex learning difficulties. The school admits from age 3. Its early years provision includes children undergoing assessment for an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP), alongside learners who already have one.

The purpose-built school building opened in September 2019. This is nursery provision within a school, with specialist support organised across that wider setting. Lexden Springs has no Ofsted graded rating yet under this URN.

Learning follows individual needs rather than a single pace. Across the school, EHCP outcomes guide personalised teaching, and activities are adjusted to each pupil’s developmental stage. For a young child, that makes their own learning targets the relevant starting point.

Reading support illustrates this approach. Lexden Springs uses Bug Club Phonics, adapting lessons to the learner. For pupils who are not ready for letter sounds, Phase 1 concentrates on listening: sounds made by instruments, the environment and the voice, alongside body percussion. These are ways to work on attention and sound awareness before moving towards letter sounds.

Communication support also includes Symbols Making Sense books for Makaton users and Oxford Reading Tree books with symbols for pupils needing that prompt. These are school-wide resources, offering different ways to approach reading according to the child’s communication needs.

Starting school involves an individual transition programme developed with parents. This gives families a role in preparing the move and sharing what staff need to know about their child.

Across the school, support can include a communication passport, an individual learning programme and plans for medical needs and personal care. The headteacher holds the SENCO role, while teachers take responsibility for their pupils’ progress. These arrangements connect learning with the care a child needs to participate.

Daily home-school communication books provide a regular link with families. SchoolPing handles messages and reminders; Evidence for Learning records progress towards individual targets and shares classroom moments. Parents therefore have routes for both practical updates and following learning.

Family Liaison Officers can help with paperwork, offer home visits and connect families with outside services. Parents can contact this team through the school office email.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Treat the next placement as a separate decision, rather than assuming that starting here settles it.

Applications to Lexden Springs go through Essex County Council’s SEND department within the EHCP process or an EHCP review. The local authority decides which placement can meet the child’s needs; if consulted, Lexden Springs considers both suitability and capacity. Keep the next stage of placement planning distinct from the school’s individual transition support.

Lexden Springs is on Winstree Road in Colchester, CO3 0PZ. For enquiries, telephone 01206 563321 or email admin@lexdensprings.essex.sch.uk. Placement enquiries follow the Essex SEND route described above, while the school office provides the contact point for family communication and support.