Temple Hill Primary Academy Nursery

Stories travel beyond the classroom at Temple Hill: nursery children have taken a Gruffalo adventure into the Enchanted Woodland. Books, conversation and outdoor exploration give this school nursery its character, with language development a particular focus.

Based at Temple Hill Primary Academy in Dartford, the nursery runs during term time. Children are normally considered for entry in the calendar year before they would start Reception; younger children can be offered places when space permits. Ofsted graded the school's early years provision Good at the inspection on 26 and 27 November 2024. That judgement covers the early years phase rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Adult-led activities sit alongside play that children choose themselves. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together learning to communicate, managing feelings and relationships, and physical development, alongside early reading and writing, mathematics, exploring the world and creative activity. For parents, this means learning includes conversation, movement and play as well as work with an adult.

Language has a clear place in that balance. Nursery learning uses stories to expand children's vocabulary, and RWI Phonics begins in nursery. In November 2024, early years staff encouraged children to try unfamiliar words and practise asking and answering questions. Familiar stories about a tiger's tea visit and a bear hunt helped connect language with experiences children could imagine.

The EYFS Garden provides opportunities for jumping and climbing, while classroom book areas give reading a physical place indoors. A nursery Gruffalo activity in the Enchanted Woodland is a concrete example of a story becoming an outdoor experience. Children can connect the words they hear with the places they explore.

Planning responds to children's interests and staff observations. Adults use those observations to decide the next learning steps, with additional attention to literacy and mathematics where needed. The nursery also visits Gardenia House, a residential home, fortnightly, taking children's experiences beyond the school grounds.

Identifying special educational needs and disabilities early is part of the EYFS approach. Observations inform planning, so support can respond to an individual child's development rather than rely only on a shared topic. The initial emphasis includes children's emotional and social development, communication and physical skills.

Food arrangements depend on the attendance pattern. For children using the charged 8:30am to 3:30pm arrangement, the additional charge covers lunchtime supervision and includes a school meal. Nursery children can also attend The Hill breakfast and after-school clubs; the after-school offer includes a light tea. These arrangements matter when choosing how much of the day a child will spend at school.

A nursery place does not guarantee admission to Temple Hill's Reception class. Families must make another application for the main school through the normal Reception admissions process and meet the deadline for their child's entry year. Treat that application as a separate task, even if your child already attends nursery.

The nursery operates for 38 weeks each year. Monday to Friday sessions run from 8:30am to 11:30am or from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. The 15-hour funded entitlement starts in the term after a child's third birthday and is taken in three-hour sessions. Hours cannot be compressed into a different delivery pattern.

Working parents who meet the eligibility criteria can apply for funding of up to 30 hours a week. The fully funded attendance pattern runs from 8:30am to 2:30pm, with limited places subject to availability. Extending attendance to 3:30pm involves a charge. All attendance patterns depend on availability, so confirm the intended arrangement and current charges before booking.

Apply directly to the academy using its online nursery application. Enquiries can go to the nursery admissions officer, or the office on 01322 224600 or thoffice@golden-thread.org. School tours can be arranged through the office.