Buckingham Primary School Nursery Review

A morning at nursery also brings children into Buckingham’s wider school life: special assemblies, celebrations and community events include them from the start. This is on-site provision at Buckingham Primary School in Hampton, where children can join from age three. Participation gives the youngest children opportunities to become familiar with the school beyond their own class.

Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 3 and 4 December 2024. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.

The nursery morning runs from 08:50 to 11:50. That gives families a clearly defined session to fit into their day, with collection before the afternoon school timetable.

Language gives the early years curriculum its character. In December 2024, children encountered stories and rhymes frequently, while adults helped them explain both their emotions and what they were learning. These are practical foundations for communication: listening to language, trying out words and expressing a thought to someone else.

The Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum was carefully planned, with an environment that encouraged curiosity and confidence. Curriculum planning starts in Nursery, identifying the knowledge children should acquire. The emphasis is on building learning progressively, rather than treating the nursery year as an isolated introduction to school.

For additional needs, parents have a direct starting point: their child’s teacher or the Inclusion Team, contacted through the school office. The team comprises an Inclusion Manager and a SENCo. Buckingham uses Richmond’s SEND Inclusion Toolkit and Charter to guide its provision, giving staff a shared framework for responding to different needs.

The 2024–2025 SEND Information Report describes support beginning with adaptations in class, with individual or small-group work where appropriate. Bright Eyes Programme is among the possible options for early years children. Provision depends on the child’s needs, so this is a support option rather than a routine activity for every nursery child.

That document also sets out arrangements for joining: an Inclusion Team member contacts the family to plan the child’s transition, and staff seek information from the previous setting where possible. Parents contribute to reviews of support. This connects what families know about their child with the arrangements staff make in school.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the relevant deadline. Richmond upon Thames is Buckingham’s admissions authority, so nursery enrolment should never be treated as the Reception application itself.

Transition support is a separate matter. Buckingham’s 2024–2025 SEND arrangements describe sharing information with the next teacher, using pupil passports and giving children time with their new teacher and classroom before summer ends. Some children may also receive a social story to explain the change. These measures support familiarity; they do not establish an admissions advantage.

To apply for Nursery, return the school’s application form with a copy of the child’s birth certificate. Enquiries go to info@buckingham.richmond.sch.uk through the school office. The school’s address is Buckingham Road, Hampton, TW12 3LT.

Morning collection. The nursery session ends at 11:50. Families should plan their childcare around that nursery timetable when considering whether the provision fits their working day.