Hare Street Nursery Review

Climbing frames, trike areas and gardens give Hare Street’s early years provision a distinctly outdoor character. Separate play spaces for the youngest children also include sand and water activities, making room for movement and exploration alongside classroom learning.

The nursery belongs to Hare Street Community Primary School and Nursery in Harlow and caters for children aged 3 and 4. Families can take 15-hour or 30-hour places, with morning, afternoon and full-time sessions. Those different patterns make the nursery relevant both to families seeking a shorter session and to those needing a longer day.

Learning follows the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework, or EYFS. Learning opportunities include physical movement on climbing frames and trikes, and exploration with sand, water and gardens: children have practical ways to develop skills and investigate their surroundings. The school says children learn best when subjects connect and when they can learn through direct experience; that gives parents a useful picture of its intended approach.

Outdoor provision adds concrete possibilities to that approach. Children have early years play areas of their own, with gardens to explore, space for trikes and climbing equipment. Sand and water play provide a different kind of activity alongside those opportunities for physical movement. These are specific spaces for younger children within the larger school site.

The morning runs from 8:30am to 11:30am. Afternoon children attend from 12:30pm until 3:30pm, while the full-time pattern spans 8:30am to 3:30pm. A full-time place therefore has a different rhythm from either shorter session.

For concerns about learning or development, the class teacher is the first contact, with the SEN team another route for discussion. The school’s support process involves assessment, planning, putting support into practice and reviewing it. Parents are invited to reviews, so they can contribute to decisions about their child’s help.

One Plans record individual learning support. Targeted sessions and input from speech and language therapists or occupational therapists are among the approaches the school aims to use. School resources include a Sensory Room and a Learning Hub; these are school facilities rather than a description of the nursery classroom.

School meals are supplied by HCL Catering Company. The school’s ordering arrangement uses School Grid, with orders due by 8:30am that day. Allergy and dietary information must be updated through HCL, giving families a specific responsibility in meal planning.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate school application through the local authority and meet the normal application deadline. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as two separate decisions.

Transition support has a different purpose: helping children become familiar with their next classroom. The school’s SEND transition arrangements include meeting new staff, classroom visits and photograph books for the summer break. Extra transition time can be tailored to the child, while staff pass on SEN records and discuss needs.

Sessions run Monday to Friday. There is a September intake each year, and children can join the nursery waiting list from age 2. Allocation for the following academic year takes place in May. Nursery applications use a separate application link.

The 30-hour funded option depends on eligibility, which families can check through Childcare Choices. For general enquiries, contact the office team at office@harestreet.essex.sch.uk or call 01279 868181. The nursery is at Little Grove Field, Harlow, CM19 4BU.