St Andrew's CofE Primary School Nursery Review

Two-year-olds have their own allocation of places at St Andrew’s: 5 per session, alongside 15 for children aged 3 to 5. These numbers can change with staffing ratios and the waiting list. That distinction matters when choosing sessions for children of different ages.

The maintained nursery belongs to St Andrew’s CofE Primary School in Furnace Green, Crawley. Its Christian identity is explicit: the nursery describes faith as shaping its service to children and families, with curiosity and collaboration among its aims.

Morning, afternoon and all-day attendance give families different ways to organise the nursery week. Lunch belongs to the all-day option; children attending either shorter session do not stay for it.

Sensory support includes physical spaces as well as equipment. Across the school and nursery, provision includes two sensory rooms, a sensory garden, ear defenders and opportunities to take sensory breaks. These give children who need help managing stimulation alternatives to remaining in a busy activity. The school’s sensory garden and sensory room can be used with an adult to help children regulate their feelings.

Lunch needs an active decision from parents. For children staying all day, families either send a packed lunch or order a paid hot meal from Chartwells. A meal is not supplied automatically. Parents also provide a healthy snack and any nappies, wipes or creams their child needs, with everything labelled and enough supplied for the day.

For additional needs, support is coordinated by the SENDCO alongside teaching and pastoral staff. Individual Support Plans go home three times a year, with personalised targets agreed with parents and children. Parents can arrange a SENDCO meeting whenever they need one. This creates a route for discussing support as needs change, rather than waiting for the next scheduled review.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place, and it confers no nursery-attendance priority under the school’s admission criteria. Families must make a separate school application through West Sussex County Council. Complete the West Sussex Common Application Form online by 15 January 2027; keep that application separate from nursery registration.

Transition support is a different matter from admission entitlement. For children with SEND, meetings involve nursery staff and parents before school entry, and additional visits can be arranged for those who need them. Sharing information between settings helps the next team prepare for a child’s needs. It does not secure a place.

Sessions run Monday to Friday: mornings are 9am to noon, afternoons 12.15pm to 3pm, and all day 9am to 3pm. A charged extension to 3.15pm is available, which can help families collecting older siblings. Confirm the afternoon booking when registering, as the session arrangements also include a later finish.

Funded provision includes term-time 15-hour places and 30 hours for eligible children. Universal funding for children aged 3 and 4 starts in the term following their third birthday; funding for two-year-olds depends on eligibility. Additional attendance beyond funded entitlement is charged. Ask the school for current charges, including meals and the collection extension.

Register using the online nursery form and email a birth-certificate copy to nurseryadmin@stap.school. Parents select preferred sessions subject to availability. A nursery logo jumper is encouraged. Cancelling an allocated nursery place requires four weeks’ notice, so factor that into any change of childcare plans.