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Nursery at Westfield Nursery 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
A hello song, a name card and a choice of indoor and outdoor play give Westfield’s day a recognisable shape. This maintained nursery school on Westfield Road, Dunstable, serves children aged two to five. The nursery is the school itself, with Bumblebees for two-year-olds, Dragonflies and Ladybirds for children attending 15 hours, and Caterpillars and Butterflies for those attending 30 hours.
Ofsted judged the school Good following its inspection on 3 and 4 October 2023. That is a school judgement, rather than a separate rating for an attached nursery unit.
Play and adult-led learning share the timetable. Children choose activities indoors and outside, while adults lead snack and group sessions. Message board time brings a greeting song, discussion of weather and days, and reminders about kindness and tidying. Later, stories, songs and word games give children opportunities to listen and speak together. Outdoor play takes place whatever the weather.
The Early Years Foundation Stage covers seven areas: physical skills, relationships and emotions, communication, early reading and writing, maths, creativity, and understanding the world. Westfield organises its own curriculum around vocabulary themes. Adults help children decide what to try, carry out their ideas and look back at what happened, giving purposeful conversation a place within play.
Classrooms and outdoor provision have areas for construction, pretend play, books, creative work, maths and sensory exploration. Everyday materials, including blocks, paper and pencils, remain accessible so children can follow an interest and fetch what they need. Reading corners have soft furnishings and calm spaces for children who need time to regulate.
Activ8 sports sessions, a summer-term Ark Farm experience and visits from a librarian, police officer and paramedic broaden the programme. A home activity passport is stamped and shared with the class, connecting experiences with family life.
There is a teaching caveat. In October 2023, activities did not consistently stretch children’s understanding across the curriculum, slowing some children’s learning. Governors’ monitoring arrangements were also insufficiently established, limiting how fully leaders could deliver their ambitions.
Settling starts with an intake meeting and either a home visit or a getting-to-know-you visit at school. Staff learn about children’s interests, previous learning and care needs. The admissions policy reviewed in July 2022 describes settling over roughly a week, with flexibility for children who need longer. Class leaders and teaching assistants meet families before children start.
Snack time includes vegetables, fruit or snacks chosen with dental health in mind, alongside water or milk. Conversation about the session makes this a learning opportunity too. Children who are still learning to use the toilet are covered by an intimate care policy; medical needs prompt a care plan developed with families and health professionals.
WellComm helps identify speech and language needs. Support can include Lift Off to Language, picture choices, movement breaks and individual plans reviewed with parents. In October 2023, children with SEND had their needs recognised promptly and received effective support; safeguarding arrangements were effective. For children learning English, staff use gestures, visual routines and a pocket talk translation device while supporting home-language use.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Parents must make a separate application through Central Bedfordshire and meet the normal Reception application deadline.
Transition support is a different matter. When children move to another school, Westfield requests extra visits and teacher and SEND handovers, sharing assessments and support plans. Where appropriate, children with SEND make several visits during their final term, with parents and representatives of both schools involved in a transition meeting. This helps the receiving team prepare for the child’s needs.
Westfield operates during term time. Its July 2022 admissions policy describes 15-hour and, subject to government eligibility, 30-hour funded provision. The longer pattern includes an additional 45 minutes each day that parents pay for; places depend on space. Two-year-old morning and afternoon sessions run Monday to Friday. The policy gives priority to eligible funded children, with paid sessions possible if spaces remain.
Arrange a visit through the office, then email the waiting-list form to office@westfieldnurseryschool.org. Ask the school for current charges. Late collection can incur a charge. Uniform is optional, and preloved items form part of the school’s family support programme when available.
The school’s age range is two to five, with Bumblebees for two-year-olds and separate classes for children attending 15 or 30 hours.
Families meet staff before starting and have a home or school-based getting-to-know-you visit. The July 2022 admissions policy describes a flexible settling period, generally spread over a week.
They have fruit, vegetables or tooth-friendly snacks, with milk or water. Adults use snack time for conversation about children’s learning.
No. Parents need to apply separately through Central Bedfordshire and meet the normal Reception deadline.
Contact the office to arrange a visit. The waiting-list form can then be emailed to office@westfieldnurseryschool.org.
