Edward Betham Nursery Review

A separate nursery building, an outdoor learning area behind it and a choice of three session patterns give Edward Betham’s youngest children their own space within a primary school. The nursery admits children from age three each September. It sits alongside the Infant Department on the school’s split site in Oldfield Lane South, Greenford.

For 2026-27, the nursery has 25 morning places and 25 afternoon places, with children attending all day included in those totals. These are session capacities, rather than two groups of additional places for full-day children. The Church of England ethos also matters: families are expected to support the school’s Christian character.

Three-hour morning and afternoon sessions sit alongside an all-day option. The nursery building contains a large space indoors, with learning outdoors at the rear, so the physical provision includes both settings for children’s activities.

Learning follows the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum. The clearest examples concern practising early skills and becoming more independent: Ofsted’s inspection on 30 April and 1 May 2024 found that children in early years had repeated opportunities to revisit learning and develop independence. For parents, the emphasis is on children getting opportunities to use what they have learned, rather than encountering a concept just once.

Number learning includes understanding quantities and distinguishing between more and fewer. Art introduces children to artists drawn from different parts of the world from early years onwards, giving their creative learning a broader set of examples.

The same inspection identified a school-wide weakness in helping pupils connect ideas and learn some content deeply enough to remember it later. That concern applies to curriculum delivery across the school; it should be considered separately from the positive early-years findings.

Settling starts with a September Stay and Play session for children and their parents or carers. Families can meet staff and become familiar with the nursery before attendance begins. New starters then join gradually over two weeks, giving the start of nursery a staged structure.

Staffing includes a nursery teacher and two Early Years Practitioners. The practitioners have paediatric first-aid training, as do the school’s teaching assistants and meal supervisors. Nursery meal supervisors are listed separately within the staff team.

Support for additional needs follows the school’s Assess, Plan, Do, Review process. Teachers, the SEND coordinator and families contribute to individual plans, with progress discussed each term. Speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and educational psychologists can contribute specialist advice. This gives parents a defined part in reviewing support and deciding the next steps.

Attending Edward Betham Nursery does not guarantee a Reception place, and nursery attendance is not an oversubscription priority in the 2027-28 Reception arrangements. Families must make a separate application through the local authority, using the Common Application Form, with online applications directed to eAdmissions. The arrangements give 15 January as the general application deadline.

For applications under the specified faith criteria, a Supplementary Information Form and proof of address must also go to the school. Familiarity with the nursery does not replace either application step.

For children with SEND moving between classes, transition support includes sharing plans with the next teacher and a Meet the Teacher lesson. A book explaining the change can also be made where it would help the child. This is preparation for a change of classroom, separate from securing admission.

Morning nursery runs from 8:30am to 11:30am; afternoon nursery runs from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. The all-day session is 8:30am to 3:30pm. Nursery offers cover one year, so families should distinguish the length of the offer from their preferred daily session.

Applications for nursery go directly to the school. Contact the office on 020 8578 8928 or email admin@edwardbetham.ealing.sch.uk for nursery enquiries.

At collection and drop-off, staff need to concentrate on handing children over safely. Send important messages by telephone or email, and arrange a longer conversation separately so that handovers retain staff’s attention.