Riverside Primary School Nursery Review

Weekly woodland learning gives Rabbits, Riverside’s nursery class, a practical outdoor thread alongside its classroom activities. Children can join once they turn 3, with 15 funded hours each week through morning or afternoon sessions. This is a term-time pattern, suited to families whose childcare arrangements follow the school calendar.

The nursery belongs to the school’s Foundation Stage Unit in Rainham. Its learning combines activities led by adults with play children choose themselves, rather than making the whole session a sequence of directed tasks. Children’s interests help shape the planning.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together early reading and number work with movement, conversation, creativity and learning about the world. Personal and social development also forms part of that curriculum. In practice, staff plan guided activities each day while leaving opportunities for children to investigate independently. That gives children both an introduction to new skills and room to pursue their own ideas.

White Rose begins in the nursery. Early mathematics uses objects such as counters, bead strings and Numicon, giving children something to handle as they explore numbers. Art activities involve experimenting with colour, texture and materials; design and technology introduces making projects and using simple tools. These are practical ways to connect ideas with actions.

Outdoor learning is a regular part of the pattern. Foundation Stage children use an area of the school for woodland activities every week, with opportunities to solve problems and cooperate with friends. The EYFS outdoor spaces are used throughout the year, including in most weather conditions. Outdoors is part of the learning environment, rather than an occasional treat.

Parent contact includes coffee mornings, workshops and consultations, alongside Class Dojo. Meetings support children as they start school and move through the EYFS, giving families opportunities to discuss their child’s adjustment and learning. Staff record observations in an individual Learning Journey and use Development Matters to plan what comes next.

For additional needs, the school has an Inclusion Manager and specialist provisions for visual impairment and autism. Their model centres on learning alongside children of the same age in mainstream classes, with specific interventions where needed. This school-wide structure provides context for families considering support at nursery; admission to the specialist provisions has its own criteria.

Children under 5 qualify for free daily Cool Milk. Riverside also prohibits food containing nuts. Parents therefore need to keep that restriction in mind when sending food into school.

Attending Riverside’s nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. Treat the nursery decision and the school-place decision as separate commitments.

Riverside describes continuity of practice for nursery children who subsequently enter its Reception classes, supported by staff knowing the children and their families. That familiarity concerns the move between classes; it does not secure admission.

Sessions run Monday to Friday during term time: mornings are 8:30am to 11:30am, and afternoons are 12:15pm to 3:15pm. Each pattern offers a defined block of childcare, so collection arrangements need to fit the chosen session.

Nursery applications go directly to the school using its nursery form. Return it to the office or email riverside-office@rmet.org. Visits can also be arranged through the office on 01634 623500.

The school uniform rule applies to all children. Options include a burgundy or red jumper or cardigan, a white collared top and black or grey bottoms. Wellington boots and waterproof clothing are kept at school for outdoor activities, a practical match for the year-round outdoor learning.