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Nursery at Northbourne Church of England Primary School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Penguins begin with Read Write Inc. sounds, outdoor play and clothes that can cope with getting messy. This is Northbourne’s own nursery class in Didcot, fully part of the Church of England primary school. Children join at the beginning of the term following their third birthday, and eligible children can take 30-hour places.
The practical character is clear: bring wellington boots, expect toilet-training accidents to be treated as normal, and pack lunch for a child attending the 30-hour provision. Nursery life has its own arrangements, including no uniform. Being part of the school does not guarantee a later Reception place.
Two sessions shape the day: mornings run from 8:45am to 11:45am, while afternoons begin at 12.15pm and finish at 3:15pm. Children attending the 30-hour provision bring a packed lunch, so families need to plan food as well as session attendance.
Early Years Foundation Stage learning here includes developing language and starting to understand number. In May 2022, Ofsted found that early years staff placed sustained emphasis on communication and language, and that children were introduced to important mathematical concepts. These are foundations for expressing ideas and beginning to reason about numbers.
Read Write Inc. starts in Nursery with images and set 1 sounds. That gives children a named starting point for learning how sounds relate to reading. Outdoor play is also part of nursery life: wellington boots stay at school, and the Early Years area includes a sandpit. Comfortable clothing suitable for outdoor activity makes sense here; messy learning is explicitly anticipated.
Mathematics assessment. The May 2022 inspection identified inconsistent checks on mathematical understanding, with misconceptions not reliably picked up before teaching moved ahead. For families, checking how staff recognise and respond to a child’s misunderstandings is a useful conversation about learning.
Settling centres on a clear goodbye. Parents are asked to arrive punctually, give their child time to greet the teacher, and explain who will collect them later. The nursery recognises that children settle differently; predictable collection arrangements give the goodbye a concrete reassurance.
Toilet training is handled with parent involvement. Keep staff informed about your child’s progress and send spare clothes and plastic bags for accidents. Clothes should be easy to manage when using the toilet, making independence a practical part of the day.
A daily portion of fresh fruit or vegetables is provided, and parents can register for free milk through Cool Milk. Children using 30-hour provision need a named packed lunch without nuts. Uneaten food stays in the lunchbox, allowing parents to see how much their child has eaten.
In May 2022, early years staff got to know children promptly and identified their individual needs quickly. The school’s SEND approach includes assessment, conversations with parents, targeted help and collaboration with external professionals. Families can contact the SENCo through the school office to discuss support.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee admission to Reception. Families must make a separate application to Oxfordshire County Council, between September and January in the school year their child turns four. School staff can help with the application.
For the past 2026/27 Reception intake, the application deadline was 15 January 2026. Keep the nursery decision and the Reception application separate: a place in Penguins does not replace that application.
Morning drop-off is at the classroom door, with collection through the Early Years gate at the end of the car park. Afternoon children arrive through the school office and are collected outside their classroom. Phone the office if collection is delayed.
There is no nursery uniform. Name clothing, shoes and coats; bring a filled water bottle and named wellington boots. Open-toed shoes and crocs are unsuitable.
Northbourne North Stars provides nursery wraparound care within an 8:00am to 5:00pm window. Booking uses My Child at School (MCAS), with advance sign-up due by 9am on the preceding Friday. The nursery afternoon provision includes snack and tea. Ask the school for current charges; direct North Stars enquiries to northstars@northbourne.oxon.sch.uk. For nursery enquiries, contact the office on 01235 817744 or office.3852@northbourne.oxon.sch.uk.
Children join at the start of the term after turning three. Eligible children can take 30-hour places.
The morning session is 8:45am to 11:45am. The afternoon session is 12.15pm to 3:15pm.
No. A separate application to Oxfordshire County Council is required, between September and January in the school year your child turns four.
Children attending 30-hour provision need a named, nut-free packed lunch. Nursery provides fresh fruit or vegetables daily, and parents can register for free milk through Cool Milk.
No. Send comfortable clothes suitable for outdoor and messy activities, with spare clothes for accidents. Name belongings and provide wellington boots to keep at school.
