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Nursery at Parkway Primary 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Wednesday means Forest School for Ash Nursery, with outdoor learning built into Parkway’s nursery week. This is the school’s own nursery on Alsike Road in Erith, combining play chosen by children with activities led by adults. A class teacher leads the provision.
For September 2026, the nursery offered 26 places under its 15-hour provision. That intake covered children born between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2023. The pattern concentrates attendance into two longer days and a shorter Wednesday morning, an important practical consideration for families arranging their week.
Play gives the curriculum its shape. Children explore indoors and outdoors, with adults organising activities alongside opportunities for children to follow their own interests. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together learning about language, movement and relationships, then develops literacy, mathematical understanding, creativity and knowledge of the world. In parent terms, talking, playing and exploring are part of learning rather than breaks from it.
All About Me starts the autumn with friendships, family life, feelings and familiar routines. Later, Once Upon a Time & Plants and Flowers brings traditional tales together with plant growth and the natural world. These themes give children something concrete to discuss and investigate, linking storytelling with hands-on exploration.
The on-site Forest School occupies a self-contained area on the school field. Nursery children use it on Wednesdays, so suitable footwear and clothing for the weather matter. Class teachers running Forest School receive training from its leader. Outdoor exploration is a regular part of the week, rather than an occasional excursion.
Reading also reaches home: each child takes a book to share with their family every week, returning it for an exchange. Ofsted’s June 2024 inspection described nursery children enjoying stories read together, songs and rhymes as the starting point for reading. That gives families a familiar way to join in with learning through conversation and shared books.
Settling is woven into the first autumn theme. Children get to know nursery routines, explore their interests and develop friendships while learning about feelings and families. Parents can speak directly with the teacher about questions or concerns, or contact the office by email. School correspondence comes through Parentmail, giving families another route for keeping up with notices.
Lunch can be a hot school meal, charged separately, or a packed lunch from home. Packed lunches must exclude nuts and carry the child’s name. Children also need a named bottle containing fresh water each day. Contact the school for current meal charges.
For children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), Parkway’s assessment process includes EYFS progress checks and termly reviews. Individual Support Plans, where appropriate for children without an EHCP, identify adjustments and targets; parents are invited to review them with the SENCo each term. This gives families a scheduled opportunity to discuss how support is working.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Parents must make a separate application through Bexley’s normal admissions process, using eAdmissions and meeting the deadline for their child’s entry year. For the September 2026 Reception cycle, the deadline was 15 January 2026; that date has passed.
Transition support for children with SEND is a separate matter from admission. When children change classes within Parkway, staff pass information to the new teacher and hold a planning meeting. Classroom visits and Transition Books can be arranged when needed, helping children prepare for a change in familiar adults and surroundings.
Attendance runs from 08:45 to 15:15 on Monday and Tuesday, then 08:45 to 11:00 on Wednesday. This is the pattern attached to the September 2026 15-hour provision. Nursery enquiries can go through the school office or admin@parkway.bexley.sch.uk.
School uniform is required each day. The school’s dress code specifies a red polo shirt with black trousers, skirt, pinafore or culottes, alongside red knitwear or a school sweatshirt. Label clothing, coats and other belongings. Wednesday’s Forest School also calls for outdoor clothing and footwear suited to the conditions.
Monday and Tuesday sessions run from 08:45 to 15:15. Wednesday runs from 08:45 to 11:00.
Children learn through outdoor play and exploration, and attend the on-site Forest School on Wednesdays.
Yes. Packed lunches must be nut-free and labelled. A charged hot school lunch is another option.
No. Reception requires a separate application through Bexley’s normal process using eAdmissions, by the deadline for the relevant entry year.
Speak to the school office, email admin@parkway.bexley.sch.uk, or speak directly with the nursery teacher.
