Riverview CofE Primary and Nursery School VA: Nursery Review

Children’s own interests set the direction in Pearl Class, with daily teaching in reading, phonics and numbers woven into play. This is Riverview’s 26-place mainstream school nursery in West Ewell. Children can join from the term after their third birthday. Riverview also manages a separate Day Nursery on the same site, so families should distinguish Pearl Class from that provision when enquiring.

A teacher leads the nursery team. At the Ofsted inspection on 10 and 11 May 2023, the school’s early years provision was judged Good. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.

Play gives children choices, while adults give learning direction. Staff watch what interests a child and use the opportunity to extend their learning straight away. Planned teaching also takes place with small groups or the class together. The balance gives children time to pursue an idea alongside regular introductions to early literacy and mathematics.

The nursery’s workshop arrangement gives children access to outdoor and indoor learning spaces, with resources they can choose and use in different ways. Pearl Class activities have included sorting triangles by their sides and corners, exploring how numbers combine, and practising letters from children’s names. These are concrete beginnings in recognising shapes, understanding quantity and writing.

Books give this early years learning another focus. Nursery core texts include Dear Zoo, You Choose and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Little Wandle Foundations for Phonics texts also feature in the nursery book selection. Each class visits the Library Bus weekly to choose a book for home, giving families a regular story to share.

In May 2023, early years teaching introduced vocabulary to expand children’s understanding. Learning characters encouraged curiosity and persistence, making the habits of learning explicit as well as the content.

Contact with families has a regular rhythm: parent drop-ins begin at 09:00 and last 15 minutes, and parents’ evenings take place each term. These provide opportunities to discuss a child’s learning alongside the classroom team.

In May 2023, early years staff adapted activities so children with SEND could participate. The school also employs a Family Support Worker for its families, offering another route for support beyond classroom learning.

Food sits within the school’s wider arrangements. Twelve15 cooks fresh meals daily in the on-site kitchen, with a vegetarian option among the hot lunches. Families must return a dietary form for needs connected with allergies or religion and keep it updated. Nuts are prohibited throughout the school. The Cool Milk scheme provides free milk for under-fives following registration, ending on the Friday before a child’s fifth birthday.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the local authority and meet the deadline for their child’s entry year. Choosing Pearl Class should therefore be a decision about the nursery experience itself.

For September 2026 entry, the application deadline was 15 January 2026. That cycle is now past; it should not be used as the deadline for a later intake.

The session pattern groups attendance at the start of the week: Monday and Tuesday run from 09:00 to 15:00, followed by Wednesday from 09:00 to 12:00. This gives families a clear pattern around which to arrange the rest of their week. A limited number of places with 30-hour funding are available through the School Office.

Nursery visits are welcomed, and applications use the nursery application form. Enquiries can go through the general enquiry form, by email to info@riverview.surrey.sch.uk or by calling 020 8337 1245.

Pearl Class uniform includes a Riverview round-neck cardigan or sweatshirt, with an optional fleece. Label clothing and belongings with the child’s name and class. Parking. Space around the school is extremely limited. Families driving should allow time to park farther away and walk.