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Nursery at St Paul's CofE Primary School & Nursery
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.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 play shop, a miniature farm and stories about food give this nursery's learning a concrete starting point. At St Paul's in Tongham, children explore words and ideas through play, with conversation running through the activities. The provision caters for two-year-olds and children aged three and four within the Church of England primary school.
Entry can begin in the term after a child's second birthday, subject to space. Places for two-year-olds are limited. This is term-time provision, with 15 or 30 hours offered, so the nursery fits a school-year pattern rather than year-round childcare.
Language gets sustained attention. For two-year-olds, adults name objects, describe play and repeat words, while songs and familiar stories encourage children to communicate their needs. Older nursery children practise asking questions, recounting experiences and holding conversations. The Strong Foundations approach gives these everyday exchanges a clear purpose: building the language children use to join in and learn.
The EYFS curriculum connects physical development, relationships and communication with early number, literacy, creativity and exploration of the world. Younger children learn through sensory experiences, movement and repetition. For three- and four-year-olds, adult-led activities sit alongside collaborative play and opportunities to explore independently. Listening, managing feelings and self-care receive attention alongside early learning.
In spring 2026, Ready, Steady, Grow brought food into nursery play. Children used the shop to learn fruit and vegetable names, shared The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Handa's Surprise, and explored food origins through farm animals in the small world area. These are useful links between a story, a new word and something a child can act out.
Outdoor learning extends the classroom through Forest School and the Nurture Farm. Exploration and practical tasks connect movement with conversation and investigation. Indoors, visual timetables, labelled resources and places for mark-making support children in understanding routines and choosing activities.
For the youngest children, the nursery prioritises relationships with responsive adults, familiar routines and help with regulating emotions. Gradual transitions, information shared between staff and partnership with parents support the move from home to nursery. Stay-and-play opportunities and transition meetings give families ways to participate.
The nursery team includes a teacher, a lead early years practitioner and teaching assistants. Children needing additional communication support may receive WellComm assessment and intervention, speech and language therapy involvement, or visual aids. Support depends on need, giving families a route to discuss language development alongside everyday classroom adjustments.
Think Equal added a specific focus on belonging for preschool children in spring 2026. Each child contributed a piece to a shared jigsaw and discussed how everyone fitted together. The activity made an abstract idea tangible.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal school admissions route, with Surrey County Council acting as the admission authority. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as two separate decisions.
Preparation is a different matter. Before Reception entry, the receiving teacher visits children in their nursery settings, and children are invited to school visits during the preceding term. Children with special educational needs receive additional teacher or SENCo visits. Familiarisation supports the transition; it does not secure admission.
Funded nursery places take priority, and parents can pay to add hours. Ask the school for current charges. Two-year-olds qualifying for FEET Funding receive top priority for the limited places available to that age group; that funding covers 15 hours per week.
Nursery applications go directly to the school. For enquiries, contact school@stpaulstongham.com or call 01252 400222. Group school tours can be booked, while individual tours can be arranged through the office. A visit offers a practical way to see the setting before applying.
The provision includes two-year-olds and children aged three and four. Subject to availability, children can start in the term after turning two.
It operates during term time, offering places for 15 or 30 hours.
Communication, independence and early learning are developed through stories, sensory exploration, adult-led activities and collaborative play. In spring 2026, Ready, Steady, Grow linked shop play, food stories and a miniature farm.
No. Families need a separate Reception application through the normal school admissions route with Surrey County Council.
Email school@stpaulstongham.com or telephone 01252 400222. Group school tours can be booked, and the office can arrange an individual tour.
