St Margaret's Church of England Primary School Nursery Review

Forest School gives Ducklings an outdoor thread: nursery children take part in the programme, with a qualified nursery leader trained through the Sussex Wildlife Trust. This is the nursery at St Margaret's Church of England Primary School in Ifield, Crawley.

The wider school grounds include a pond, playing fields and Forest School areas. The church setting also shapes early learning, with Bible stories alongside introductions to other faiths.

Outdoor learning has a named approach here. Forest School centres on children's interests, and the school aims to develop independence, creativity and confidence through contact with nature. The school runs the programme throughout the school year, including wet weather, and includes nursery children. That makes outdoor learning part of the provision rather than simply a fair-weather activity; the school's two-afternoon programme timetable should not be read as each nursery child's attendance pattern.

Personal, social and emotional development is part of everyday nursery practice within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). In parent language, this means learning about feelings, relationships and being with other children belongs within daily learning.

Religious education introduces early-years children to Christian beliefs through the Nativity and Easter stories. Children also encounter stories connected with Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Islam. Understanding Christianity and the Emmanuel Project are the school's named resources for Christianity and other faiths respectively. For families, the Christian identity is therefore a curriculum consideration as well as part of the school's name.

Support for additional needs involves the nursery manager, the early-years SEND coordinator and nursery practitioners working with the school SEND coordinator. They review children's development and decide whether provision needs to change. Responsibility sits across the team.

One-Page Profiles make this work specific to the child. They record interests and approaches that help play and learning, and are shared with parents, practitioners, outside agencies and any dual placement. Nursery support follows a cycle of assessing needs, planning help, putting it into practice and reviewing its effect. This gives families a concrete account of the support being used.

Additional nursery provision covers communication, learning, emotional and social needs, and sensory or physical needs. Where a child receives an extra intervention, it is recorded in their profile. The school buildings and outdoor environment are wheelchair accessible, a practical feature for families with mobility needs.

Attending Ducklings does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through their local authority, usually West Sussex County Council. For September 2027 entry, the closing date is 15 January 2027. Families must also return the Supplementary Information Form (SIF) to the school by that date. Treat that application as a separate step from nursery enrolment.

Preparation for the move is a different matter. Before entry, children are invited to a classroom session with their future teacher, while a parent meeting explains preparation and classroom routines. Transition arrangements include sharing agreed information about additional needs, with extra transition opportunities arranged where an individual child needs them. These practices support the change of setting; they do not secure admission.

The nursery is on The Mardens, Ifield, Crawley, RH11 0AQ. Nursery enquiries can be made by telephone on 01293 421080. The school office also handles general enquiries at office@stmagsifield.co.uk, giving families a separate contact for school matters.