Lancot School Nursery Review

Exploring indoors and outside, with regular pauses for carpet sessions, gives Lancot Nursery its shape. This is Lancot School’s own provision in Dunstable, for three- and four-year-olds, with admission possible immediately after a child’s third birthday. There are 40 places per session; the allocation for children taking 30 hours is 32. Those are nursery figures, separate from the school’s capacity.

Play leads the approach. The nursery aims to develop independence and confidence through resources that children can use in different ways, rather than activities with just one prescribed answer. That gives children room to choose, experiment and work through problems.

Morning tasks and exploration lead into registration and a carpet session. Longer stretches then combine table activities, snacks and play both outside and indoors, before another group gathering. The afternoon follows a similar pattern. Children therefore have time to pursue activities alongside shared moments with adults and other children.

The indoor and outdoor learning environments both support active exploration. Open-ended resources are deliberately part of the nursery’s approach: children are encouraged to direct their learning and use their imagination. Lancot links this play to practising knowledge and skills and preparing children for school, so exploration has a learning purpose as well as giving children choices.

Snack breaks sit within both halves of the day, and lunch has its own place in the timetable. For children staying across the day, eating and group sessions interrupt the longer periods of exploration, providing a recurring rhythm.

Settling begins before the first nursery session. Families are contacted during the preceding term to arrange introductory activities, including stay-and-play sessions. These give children a chance to become familiar with the setting before their start. Parents are also encouraged to visit before choosing a place.

For children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), support plans are reviewed every 6–8 weeks in nursery, with parents involved in the meetings. This creates regular opportunities to discuss targets and adjust support. The Early Years SEND Team is among the specialist services the school can access, and referrals to outside agencies require parental consent.

Accessibility is practical too: the school occupies one level, has slopes at designated fire exits and includes a disabled toilet. Parents with concerns about their child’s needs can speak first to the class teacher, with the SEND coordinator involved where appropriate.

Breakfast Club refreshments can include porridge or toast. After School Club provides a snack after 4:30pm, such as pasta or soup. These refreshments are included in the club charge, which matters when arranging care around a nursery day.

Attending Lancot Nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through their home local authority; for Central Bedfordshire families, that route is Central Bedfordshire Council. Submit it by the normal application deadline.

For September 2027 entry, nursery attendance gives no Reception priority. Children whose education, health and care plan names the school are admitted first; the oversubscription criteria then cover care status, qualifying staff children, siblings and distance. Choose the nursery for the provision itself, while treating the Reception application as a separate decision.

For children with SEND moving between classes, transition arrangements include information sharing between teachers and opportunities to meet the next teacher or visit the classroom. Extra familiarisation can be arranged according to individual needs. This supports the move, separately from admission.

Morning sessions run from 8:40am to 11:40am; afternoon sessions run from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. Children taking 15 hours are allocated five morning or five afternoon sessions according to existing numbers, and are expected to attend them all. Requests to switch sessions cannot be guaranteed.

Both 15- and 30-hour funded provision are offered. Nursery Care Club has limited term-time places for families receiving 30 hours of funding, covering 8:40am to 3:25pm, with an additional charge for care from 2:40pm to 3:25pm. Breakfast Club starts at 7:50am and After School Club finishes at 5:30pm; nursery children may use these clubs. Book through MyChildAtSchool (MCAS), and refer to the school for current charges.

Enquiries go to the school office on 01582 667956 or admin@lancotschool.co.uk. Completed nursery enquiry and admission forms should be handed to the office.