Elmwood Infant School Nursery Review

Play, practical exploration and learning behaviours give Elmwood’s nursery its character. This is the nursery provision within Elmwood Infant School on Lodge Road, Croydon. Its curriculum starts with children investigating, making choices and taking part in activities alongside adults, rather than relying solely on whole-class instruction.

The school’s 10 super skills give that approach a shared vocabulary. Communication, independence and perseverance are among the behaviours children are encouraged to practise. For parents, these make the purpose of play easier to understand: learning includes how children approach a task and work with other people.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum follows Development Matters. In everyday language, learning combines children’s own exploration with activities led or supported by adults. Whole-class teaching, smaller groups and independent work also feature. That mix gives children opportunities both to pursue an interest and to receive focused adult attention.

Outdoor learning brings movement and social interaction into the curriculum. Children practise independence and learn about taking risks through activity outside. Indoors, the early-years art curriculum includes investigating textures, experimenting with colour and choosing materials to express an idea. Simple tools and techniques are part of this work, giving creative activity a practical purpose beyond the finished picture.

Technology also appears within early-years learning, including an introduction to internet safety. It connects with communication, mathematics and physical development, rather than existing only as a separate subject.

Ofsted’s July 2024 inspection found that curriculum planning, beginning in early years, clearly identified the knowledge and skills children should learn. The same inspection identified school-wide weaknesses in how some activities matched learning goals, how understanding was checked, adaptations for SEND beyond English and mathematics, and fluency practice for weaker readers. These are wider curriculum concerns, rather than a separate nursery judgement.

Physical access has concrete provision behind it. The December 2023 accessibility plan records a nursery changing bench and furniture positioned to accommodate wheelchair movement. These details matter for children who need help with personal care or space to move around the room.

Families can contact the school’s SENDCO about additional needs. The accessibility plan also provides for translated information and access to translators where necessary, helping parents participate in discussions about their child.

Support extends beyond the classroom. A monthly MENCAP coffee morning supports families, while CALAT runs family learning courses during the autumn and spring terms. These offer routes for parents to connect with support through the school.

Attending Elmwood’s nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the London Borough of Croydon admissions process.

For entry in September 2026, the stated deadline was 15 January 2026. That deadline has passed. Nursery enrolment and the Reception application are separate decisions; families should treat the council application as an essential additional step.

Nursery applications use a form downloadable from the nursery page. General enquiries can go to the school office at office@elmwoodinfants.co.uk or by telephone on 020 8689 7681.

Prospective-parent tours require advance booking through the office. They take place on Thursday mornings at 9:30am and include classrooms and opportunities to meet staff. This gives families a practical way to explore the school setting before deciding whether to apply.