Westcourt Primary School Nursery Review

Funky Fingers, daily stories and time to choose what to explore give China Class, Westcourt Primary School’s nursery, its character. Adult-led activities alternate with children’s own play indoors and outside. This is a nursery day with a recognisable rhythm, including movement, conversation and a quieter pause with books.

Physical skills have two regular slots: dance or yoga in Wake Up and Shake Up practises balance and coordination, while Funky Fingers works on hand strength and control for five minutes each day. Its tasks change weekly. Vocabulary gets attention through the Words of the Week video, and children take part in registering themselves. Later in the school year, activities introduce writing names and numbers. Movement, language and early writing each have a place in the routine.

Maths Time is led by a teacher. Children practise counting and comparing quantities, alongside recognising quantities without counting them individually. Shape, measurement and space also feature. Learning Time changes the balance: children decide what to pursue and which materials they need, choosing between indoor and outdoor activity. That gives them room to test ideas themselves.

Carpet Time introduces topics through investigation, art and work with sounds and books. Weekly Circle Time includes cooperative and musical games, alongside opportunities to talk, listen and share something with the group. A story and singing happen daily. Core books include Mouse Paint and The Little Red Hen; familiar rhymes include Incy Wincy Spider. The reading corner also gives children somewhere to browse quietly after snack.

These routines make early learning tangible for parents: practising speech, movement, number skills and playing alongside others. JIGSAW supplies the nursery’s personal, social and health education programme. In May 2025, Ofsted found that children across the early years developed their understanding of phonics through stories and consolidated learning through purposeful play. That finding covers the school’s early years provision.

Snack is a shared occasion, with fruit accompanied by water or milk. Adults and children talk together, and the routine encourages children to do things for themselves. Quiet book-browsing follows, giving the session a calmer interval.

Speech and language support includes Wellcomm in the nursery. Routine assessments help identify children who need additional help, giving language difficulties a route into support. The school’s inclusion manager also holds the SENCo role and can be contacted through the office. Families whose children have medical conditions are asked to email so that an Individual Health Care Plan can be considered; children needing regular medication must have a plan.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place and does not confer priority in the school’s oversubscription criteria. Families must make a separate Reception application through Kent County Council’s normal primary admissions process, by the deadline for their application cycle.

The distinction matters when planning ahead: a nursery place and a Reception allocation are separate decisions. Being familiar with Westcourt does not replace the Reception application.

Two sessions are offered: mornings run from 8.45am to 11.45am, while afternoons run from 12.30pm to 3.30pm. Families can therefore consider how either session fits around work and collection arrangements.

Nursery children use the Early Years gate at the left-hand entrance. Collection is from the classroom door. For enquiries, contact the school office on 01474 566411 or email admin@westcourt.kent.sch.uk. Office staff advise on spaces and help with applying.