Keston Primary School Nursery

Five mornings give Keston’s nursery its basic rhythm, with afternoons and wraparound care extending the options for families needing a longer day. The provision is part of Keston Primary School in Old Coulsdon. It has 52 places for children aged three and four, with the 15-hour entitlement taken across Monday to Friday mornings during term time.

September starters must have turned three by 31 August that year. The morning model is a whole-week commitment: places are offered for five three-hour sessions rather than a smaller selection of mornings. That distinction matters when fitting nursery around other childcare.

A morning runs from 9am until noon, and an afternoon from noon until 3pm. Children staying for the afternoon need a packed lunch from home or a purchased school dinner.

Language has a concrete place in the early years learning here. In February 2023, nursery children discussed the people and places in traditional stories, developing vocabulary through conversation about books. This gives parents a useful picture of learning before formal school: talking about a story is itself part of preparing to read.

The same February 2023 findings describe adults helping early years children persevere with difficult tasks. Nursery children also explored fairness and equal opportunities with adults. These examples connect learning with how children respond to challenges and understand other people.

Curriculum continuity. In February 2023, some subjects needed a clearer sequence connecting early years experiences with later learning. Leaders were asked to specify the knowledge children should acquire and how it develops through the school. This is a relevant consideration for families planning to stay beyond nursery.

Home visits are offered to children joining the nursery. Teachers may also visit a child’s existing setting, with information exchanged between providers. For children with SEND, this creates an opportunity to discuss support before the move rather than starting those conversations afterwards.

Additional Support Plans include individual targets, strategies and ways parents can help at home. They are reviewed each term, with families invited to contribute. Concerns can first be discussed with the class teacher, then with the SENDCo or deputy SENDCo at send@keston.croydon.sch.uk. The school has ramp access to each main Key Stage and an accessible toilet usable from either end of the building.

Food is built into wraparound care: Breakfast Club includes breakfast, while Afterschool Club includes a light snack. Afternoon nursery children bring a packed lunch or have a charged school dinner, so lunch needs to be considered separately from funded learning hours.

Attending Keston’s nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through their home local authority at the appropriate time. For 2025/26 entry, nursery attendance did not confer priority, and having a sibling in the nursery did not qualify a child for the school’s sibling criterion.

For children with SEND, moving between classes involves a handover between teachers. Where appropriate, children can visit their next classroom and meet staff; a photo book may also help them prepare. Familiarisation supports the change of class. It does not alter admission rights.

Eligible working parents can take a 30-hour place, subject to an offer, as six hours a day in term time. Funding eligibility must be reconfirmed each term. Families using additional paid afternoon sessions pay in advance each half term through ParentPay; self-funded sessional care requires half a term’s notice to withdraw.

Nursery wraparound care was introduced for September 2025. Breakfast Club runs from 7:30am to 9am, with Afterschool Club choices ending at 5pm or 6pm after a 3pm start. Contact the school office on 01737 555103 for nursery enquiries and current charges.