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Nursery at Featherby Infant and Nursery 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Stories, songs and outdoor play give Featherby’s nursery its character, with adult guidance alongside activities shaped by children’s interests. This is provision for three and four year olds within Featherby Infant and Nursery School on Allington Road, Gillingham. Qualified staff run the nursery, with a qualified teacher guiding children’s learning.
The early years provision reached the Expected standard in May 2026. Warm relationships, familiar routines and purposeful work on language helped children grow in confidence. That matters for a child learning both how to join a group and how to express what they need.
Sessions combine adult-led activities with child-centred play, and staff connect experiences to children’s interests. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together learning to communicate, move, create, understand the world and manage relationships, alongside early number and literacy skills. Here, these strands meet through themed projects.
Me and My Community helps children practise classroom routines and make friends. Build it up introduces materials and structures through shared construction, giving children a reason to collaborate. Splash explores what floats or sinks, how water freezes and melts, and why living things need water. These are concrete starting points for conversation and discovery.
Songs and rhymes support language, while sharing books makes stories part of nursery life. Little Wandle is the phonics scheme across EYFS. In May 2026, phonics teaching across the early years was effective, and adults used questions and language modelling to develop children’s thinking. Feedback was less consistently precise, however: helping children understand exactly how to improve remained an area for attention.
A nursery outdoor learning area supports activities in different weather conditions. Sunshine and Sunflowers takes learning into the local environment, including caring for plants and animals and learning about sun safety. Outdoor time therefore connects directly with what children are exploring.
Settling begins with familiar people and manageable routines. Social stories are prepared for children entering EYFS classrooms, while home visits at the beginning of early years help staff understand family circumstances and children’s needs. For new children who need additional support, a gradual attendance timetable can be tailored to them. Easy clothing fastenings and practice putting on a coat help children take part more independently.
Tapestry gives parents photographs of their child’s nursery experiences during the day. For children with SEND, parents contribute to planning and reviewing support through the Assess, Plan, Do, Review cycle. The school’s inclusion team can be contacted at inclusion@fpsmat.org, giving families a direct route to discuss support.
Full-day children can bring a packed lunch or have a school-provided meal. Hot and cold choices are prepared on site, with fruit and salad among the options. Families can therefore choose the lunch arrangement that suits their child and their booking.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal admissions process by the applicable deadline. The route is Medway Admissions, either online or through the Common Application Form. Treat that application as a separate family task, even when your child already knows Featherby well.
Familiarisation is a different matter from allocation. Taster sessions and story visits introduce children to their next classroom, outdoor areas and staff; teacher videos include stories and tours that families can revisit at home. Transition booklets are adapted to children’s ages and needs, with extra classroom familiarisation time where required. In May 2026, early years transition support was well planned, including additional help for children with greater needs.
Bookings follow five-session weekly patterns: mornings run from 8.40am to 11.40am, afternoons from 12.30pm to 3.30pm, and full days from 8.40am to 3.30pm. A shorter six-hour day with a 30-hour code can also be arranged on request. These patterns make the choice about the length of each day, rather than selecting occasional weekdays.
The funded offer operates over 38 term-time weeks. Universal funding covers 15 hours from the term after a child’s third birthday; eligible families can use a 30-hour code. Full-day attendance beyond funded hours attracts charges, and school-provided lunch is an additional paid option. Contact the school for current charges.
For nursery enquiries or to arrange a visit, contact the administration team on 01634 231072 or admin@fpsmat.org.
Children can start from the term following their third birthday. The nursery serves three and four year olds.
Five weekly mornings run from 8.40am to 11.40am, afternoons from 12.30pm to 3.30pm, and full days from 8.40am to 3.30pm. Six-hour days with a 30-hour code are available on request.
Yes. Full-day children can bring their own packed lunch or have a school-provided lunch, with charges depending on the arrangement.
No. Families need a separate Reception application through Medway Admissions, online or using the Common Application Form, by the applicable deadline.
Staff use Tapestry to share photographs of your child’s nursery experiences during the day.
