The FMS Inspection Score is FindMySchool's proprietary analysis based on official Ofsted and ISI inspection reports. It converts ratings into a standardised 1–10 scale for fair comparison across all schools in England.
Disclaimer: The FMS Inspection Score is an independent analysis by FindMySchool. It is not endorsed by or affiliated with Ofsted or ISI. Always refer to the official Ofsted or ISI report for the full picture of a school’s inspection outcome.
Nursery at North Primary School and Nursery
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
A separate entrance, its own playground and a place within the school’s Foundation Team give North’s nursery a distinct base within the wider school. At the front of the site, it has space for 26 children per session. Funded attendance begins in the term following a child’s third birthday.
The indoor room and separate outdoor area give children space on both sides of the nursery door. Families can choose morning or afternoon attendance, with combined sessions for those eligible for the longer funded pattern.
Learning starts with familiar routines. In March 2023, early-years staff incorporated teaching into everyday activities and planned the next steps around what children already understood. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum therefore connected new learning with existing skills, rather than treating each activity as a fresh start. Children made strong progress.
Reading begins in Nursery. In March 2023, daily phonics teaching followed a structured sequence across early years, giving early reading a regular place in the day. Alongside this, the nursery has its own curriculum overview and a sequence for developing skills. The emphasis is on building learning over time.
The physical base combines indoor learning space with a playground reserved for the nursery. That gives outdoor activity its own place within the provision. Parents can also join Stay and Learn lessons with their child, an opportunity to see classroom learning in action and participate themselves.
Settling was a strength in March 2023: children adjusted quickly to early years, and staff understood individual needs from Nursery onwards. Teachers maintained close relationships with parents. That connection matters when a young child is learning to manage a new routine away from home.
Nursery Nurses work beside class teachers within the school’s support structure. Across the school, Learning Support Assistants also help individual children and small groups; team expertise includes Makaton, speech and language, and support for children learning English as an additional language. These are school-wide resources rather than a promise of a particular intervention for each nursery child.
For children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the school uses termly reviews and action planning. The SEND coordinator connects families, teachers and specialist services, giving parents a route into discussions about individual support. Tapestry supports home learning in early years, while Parentmail carries weekly class updates about recent learning and the themes ahead. Families can request paper communications from the office. Parents without email access can register for urgent text messages, keeping essential notices accessible through another route.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application to Essex County Council through the normal school admissions process.
For the September 2026 intake, the application deadline was 15 January 2026. That cycle is now past; it should not be treated as the deadline for a later intake.
The nursery’s staff belong to the Foundation Team, linking the provision organisationally with the next stage. This team connection is separate from the allocation of Reception places and should not be mistaken for an admissions advantage.
Morning attendance runs from 8.30am to 11.30am. Afternoon sessions end at 3.30pm; check whether the booked start is 12.20pm or 12.30pm before arranging childcare. The funded 15-hour pattern comprises five mornings or five afternoons each week. Families eligible for up to 30 hours can combine both sessions, covering 8.30am to 3.30pm.
The nursery has its own entrance at the front of the school. Ramps connect the site’s different levels, and the office can arrange support for families needing special access arrangements at the beginning or end of the day.
For enquiries or a school visit appointment, contact the office on 01206 574225 or email admin@north.essex.sch.uk. Nursery applications also go through the office. Discuss current charges directly with the school when arranging attendance.
Children become eligible in the term after their third birthday.
There are places for 26 children in each nursery session.
Yes. Families eligible for up to 30 funded hours can combine sessions to cover 8.30am to 3.30pm.
No. Reception requires a separate application to Essex County Council through the normal admissions process.
Stay and Learn sessions allow parents to observe a lesson and join in with their child. Tapestry supports early-years home learning, and weekly class updates are emailed through Parentmail.
