Shawley Community Primary Academy & Nursery: Nursery Review

Early reading and clear expectations give Shawley’s early years provision its strongest evidenced character. Nursery provision forms part of Shawley Community Primary Academy & Nursery, on Shawley Way in Tattenham Corner, Epsom. It sits within a primary school, so families are choosing a school setting for their child’s nursery experience.

Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 2 and 3 July 2024. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.

Reading was a strength in early years in July 2024. Phonics teaching helped children stay focused and interested in learning. For parents, the useful detail is the children’s engagement: early reading involved sustained attention, rather than simply exposure to books or sounds.

Behaviour also began positively in early years, with demanding expectations established for everyone. This gives learning a social dimension alongside reading: children are learning how to participate as well as what to learn.

The school aims to make learning practical and connect subjects together. Its curriculum ambitions include helping children investigate, become independent and recognise their own learning journey. Those are school-wide aims, rather than a description of a particular nursery session.

The July 2024 improvement action also needs its proper scope. Across the school, teaching needed greater consistency because recent curriculum changes were not yet secure everywhere, limiting how highly some pupils achieved. This was a school-wide concern, not a specific criticism of nursery teaching.

Support for families includes resources addressing autism, ADHD, anxiety and siblings’ needs. These give parents several starting points for understanding additional needs and their effects on family life.

School safeguarding procedures apply to staff and volunteers. Parents can request the child protection and safeguarding policy, and concerns are discussed with families before information is shared with other agencies, unless doing so would conflict with the child’s welfare.

Food provision at school centres on an on-site kitchen preparing balanced, freshly cooked meals. Twelve15 handles special dietary requirements directly. The school’s lunch arrangements include packed lunches, with nuts excluded because of allergies; children eat in the main hall. These are school meal arrangements, rather than a nursery-specific meal package.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process. The application route is Surrey County Council school admissions; treat that application as a separate step from choosing nursery.

For children starting Reception, induction includes a parent evening, sessions with their new class and teacher, and September home visits by the Reception team before school starts. Familiarisation and admission serve different purposes: these activities help children prepare for the change, but do not secure a place.

For enquiries, contact the school office on 01737 350344 or email info@shawley.surrey.sch.uk. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 3.30pm during term time. This provides a direct contact route for families considering the nursery.