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Nursery at Folkestone Primary
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Stories, sand and water play give Folkestone Primary Kindergarten its character: language develops through doing, talking and playing together. This is the school’s nursery for children aged 2, 3 and 4, based on Academy Lane in Folkestone. Its purpose-built accommodation combines indoor learning spaces with outdoor areas, giving children different settings for exploration.
A separate room designed for two-year-olds accommodates up to 20 children and has an outdoor area of its own. That figure applies to this room. Age-appropriate furniture and play resources support the youngest children’s growing independence. At the Ofsted inspection on 27 and 28 June 2023, the school’s early years provision received an Outstanding judgement.
Language runs through the nursery day. Rhymes, stories and role-play sit alongside conversations between children and direct teaching. The Kindergarten follows the Early Years Foundation Stage, with play experiences adapted to children’s development. Its aim is to build confidence and relationships as well as learning skills, so talking and playing with others have a clear purpose.
Children can choose activities, while adults also teach them directly. In June 2023, early years children showed secure understanding through their play: they explained changes to active volcanoes using small-world resources and explored equality through junk modelling. Early reading and mathematics were strengths. These examples show children using ideas in practical activities rather than simply repeating information.
Singing, craft activities and sand and water play add different ways to experiment indoors and outside. Kindergarten children are also included in the school’s Forest School programme. A mud kitchen, digging space and woodwork area provide concrete opportunities to explore materials and the natural world. The school aims to develop communication, resilience and problem-solving through these sessions.
Qualified staff work with children on their social and emotional development, alongside partnership with parents and carers. In June 2023, assessment in early years was accurate and care responded to children’s individual needs and backgrounds. This matters for families whose child needs a different pace or additional help.
Early identification of special educational needs and disabilities brings together the Kindergarten Lead, Early Years Lead and SENCo. Nursery and home visits form part of that work, helping the team identify support needs early. For children on the SEND register, personalised learning plans record targets and support strategies, with parents involved in reviews three times a year.
School meals are prepared on site, with Independent Catering providing the service. Vegetarian requirements and halal meat are catered for, giving families with these dietary needs a practical food option.
Attending Kindergarten does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Kent County Council using the Common Application Form, and submit it by the local authority’s application deadline. Treat this as a separate decision and application, even when your child already attends the nursery.
Transition support is a different matter from admission. The school uses handovers and transition events between year groups, with additional help for children and families where a need is identified. This gives staff a way to carry knowledge of a child’s needs into their next stage.
Kindergarten opens daily from 8am to 6pm and follows Folkestone Primary’s term dates. The opening window gives families the hours within which nursery care operates; it should not be treated as a booked session.
Eligible two-year-olds can receive up to 570 funded hours across 38 weeks through Kent’s Free for 2 scheme. From the term after a child’s third birthday, universal funding covers a maximum of 15 hours during school terms; care beyond those hours attracts charges. Some eligible families can access the extended 30-hour entitlement. Contact the school for current charges.
Register interest through the Kindergarten’s Google form. Visits can be arranged by calling 01303 842400, and the nursery office can be contacted at fakindergarten@turnerschools.com.
Folkestone Primary Kindergarten caters for children aged 2, 3 and 4.
Kindergarten opens daily from 8am to 6pm and follows the school’s term dates.
Activities include stories, rhymes, role-play, singing, crafts, and sand and water play. Children’s own choices are combined with direct teaching.
No. Families must apply separately through Kent County Council using the Common Application Form, by the local authority’s application deadline.
Call 01303 842400 to arrange a Kindergarten visit. You can also contact the nursery office at fakindergarten@turnerschools.com.
