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Nursery at Heron Park Primary Academy
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Daily outdoor exploration and learning through play give Heron Park Nursery its character. Children can move outside whatever the weather, making suitable clothes part of the nursery kit rather than an occasional extra. This is the nursery provision within Heron Park Primary Academy in Eastbourne, taking children aged 2 to 4, with capacity for 45 depending on their ages.
Ofsted judged the school's early years provision Good following the inspection on 24 and 25 May 2022. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.
Play shapes the learning. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) covers seven areas of development, with exploration and imaginative activity giving children ways to practise their developing skills. A large outdoor learning area is accessible daily, and children can move between inside and outside. Nature is part of their everyday experience.
Read Write Inc. introduces phonics, while early mathematics draws on Mastering Number, adapted for nursery children's development. These give early reading and number work a named structure within the play-based curriculum. Learning to manage feelings and form relationships also receives attention, so the day includes social development alongside literacy and mathematics.
In May 2022, language learning ran throughout early years activities, with children talking readily to adults and one another. The early years curriculum was well developed, although its alignment with the wider school's developing curriculum still needed care. For parents, that makes continuity of learning an important consideration alongside the nursery's own activities.
Settling follows the child. Children have time to adjust at their own pace, and parents are encouraged to help during that period. The Partnership of Choice keyworker arrangement links children with adults they have formed relationships with, or whom parents request. Keyworkers maintain Learning Journeys and assess development; the wider team contributes observations and helps plan individual next steps.
The nursery team includes a teacher, a deputy manager and a practitioner. For additional needs, the school's SENCO also holds the Assistant Headteacher for Inclusion role. Depending on need, support can include individual or small-group teaching and help from speech and language therapists. Parents of children on the SEND register are invited to termly reviews, giving families regular opportunities to discuss support.
Lunch can be a packed meal or a charged hot meal with dessert from Aspens, prepared in the school's kitchen. A rotating three-week menu provides the choices. Daily snacks include fruit and raw vegetables, with milk offered and water accessible throughout the day. Families supply nappies and wipes; comforters can come too. Designated Safeguarding Leads are the school contacts for concerns about a child during term time.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal Reception admissions process by the relevant deadline.
Learning links are a separate matter. The nursery's stage not age approach allows children who are ready for additional challenge to learn alongside older children. This gives them experience of learning with older peers, but should not be treated as an admissions advantage.
Morning sessions run from 8:30 to 11:30am, afternoons from 11:30am to 2:30pm, and the all-day option from 8:30am to 2:30pm. Charged extensions cover 8:00 to 8:30am and 2:30 to 3:10pm. Provision runs Monday to Friday during term time, with weekend and bank holiday closures. Contact the school for current charges.
Pack spare clothes and label belongings, including food containers and bottles. Outdoor clothing matters because children can play outside in any weather. Enquiries go through the school office on 01323 502525 or office@heronppa.org.uk.
Children aged 2 to 4 can attend. Capacity is 45 children, depending on age.
Morning sessions are 8:30 to 11:30am, afternoon sessions 11:30am to 2:30pm, and all-day sessions 8:30am to 2:30pm. Charged extensions run from 8:00 to 8:30am and 2:30 to 3:10pm.
Children settle at their own pace, with parents encouraged to help. The Partnership of Choice system matches keyworkers through existing relationships or parental requests.
Yes. Aspens provides a charged hot meal and dessert prepared in the school kitchen, or children can bring a packed lunch. Snacks, milk and water are also offered.
No. A separate Reception application is required through the normal admissions process. Opportunities to learn alongside older children do not guarantee admission.
