Cardinal Primary School Nursery Review

A mud kitchen, outdoor reading spaces and a stage give Cardinal’s nursery its character: children can investigate, tell stories and turn familiar experiences into play. This is the school’s own nursery, on the Cardinal Road infant site in Feltham, where early years provision is based. Children joining the autumn intake must have turned three before September begins.

The choice between morning, afternoon and longer days gives families different ways to organise nursery attendance. Within the learning spaces, children’s interests help shape activities. The emphasis is on learning through doing, with books, number work and imaginative play woven into that approach.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together children’s learning and care. Here, play connects early literacy and maths with communication, creativity and physical development. Read Write Inc introduces phonics, while activities that exercise fingers and hands prepare children for writing. Books are accessible outdoors as well as indoors, so reading has a place beyond the classroom’s reading area.

Maths takes a practical form. Children search for shapes in the garden or classroom and arrange collected objects or leaves into patterns. These activities give number and shape work something tangible to build on. In the home corner, dressing up and recreating family routines provide reasons to talk, ask questions and share experiences. Celebrations including Eid and Holi can become part of those conversations.

Outside, the sand pit and digging area sit alongside the mud kitchen. Seasonal changes give children things to compare and discuss. Scooters, bikes and balancing beams offer different physical challenges, including judging space and controlling movement. Indoors, collage, paint mixing and practising with scissors develop another set of skills. The stage and musical instruments let children retell favourite stories or explore songs through performance.

Language also receives deliberate attention. At the July 2025 inspection, Ofsted described vocabulary teaching beginning in early years that used coordinated actions and words to help children learn new language, including those learning English as an additional language.

An EYFS and infant-phase SEND coordinator provides a route for discussing additional needs. Parents can raise concerns with the coordinator or class teacher; staff work with families to monitor progress and agree strategies. Parental permission is sought before an external agency visits. This gives families a role in planning support.

For school meals, Stir Food supplies the catering and School Gateway handles orders. The school’s meal arrangements include allergy menus when medical documentation has been supplied. Packed lunches also need to be recorded in the app. Families using the meal system must order by Thursday at midnight for the following week, making lunch planning a regular practical task.

Separate application. A nursery place does not guarantee admission to Cardinal’s Reception class. Families must apply again through Hounslow’s online admissions route. Where applications exceed places, allocation follows the local authority’s criteria, so nursery attendance should never be treated as a secured school place.

The 15-hour pattern offers mornings from 8:40am to 11:40am or afternoons from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. The 30-hour day runs from 8:40am to 2:40pm. A charged extension allows collection at 3:30pm, which may help families coordinate their afternoon.

The school describes funded 30-hour care for eligible families with an eligibility code. Families without that code can purchase the additional 15 hours if there is space. School Gateway handles booking and payment for extra nursery hours; contact the school for current charges.

Grey jogging bottoms are permitted for nursery uniform. For enquiries, email office@cardinalprimaryschool.co.uk or call 020 8890 6306 and select the infant office. Visits can be arranged through the school. Cardinal Road’s School Streets restrictions prevent parents’ vehicles entering between 8:15am and 9:15am and between 2:45pm and 3:45pm on school days; registered Blue Badge exemptions apply. Plan the journey accordingly.