Milwards Primary School and Nursery: Nursery Review

Rhymes and songs give Milwards’ nursery children an early start on the listening skills needed for reading. This is school-managed provision on the primary school site at Paringdon Road, Harlow, with entry from the term after a child turns three. It belongs to the school’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), known as Acorns.

Ofsted judged early years provision Good at the inspection on 7 and 8 November 2023. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Listening comes before reading here. In November 2023, nursery children were developing early reading skills through close attention to songs and rhymes. For parents, that gives a concrete picture of learning at this age: familiar sounds and spoken language help prepare children for the later work of reading.

Across early years, resources encouraged children to explore and develop their curiosity. Children progressed across the areas of learning. The EYFS is the nursery’s early learning framework; the emphasis here is on developing learning across those areas, alongside the nursery’s specific work on listening.

Milwards describes its approach as centred on the child and aims to encourage curiosity and independence. Those are useful aims to weigh alongside the concrete early years findings, rather than treating nursery as simply preparation for formal lessons.

Settling into school was supported by transition arrangements in November 2023, helping early years children become comfortable quickly. Adults recognised children’s needs. For a family starting nursery, those findings place the adjustment to school alongside learning itself.

The nursery and Reception class teacher also holds the EYFS lead, deputy head and deputy safeguarding lead roles. Their training includes a degree in Early Childhood Education, following experience in nursery work and nannying. This brings early childhood experience into the nursery’s teaching leadership.

SEND support has a trust lead practitioner who is also the special educational needs coordinator (SENCo). Parents can contact the SENCo through admin@milwards.essex.sch.uk, providing a direct route for discussing their child’s needs. Safeguarding notices around the school remind adults of their responsibilities.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. Applications are handled through Essex County Council’s coordinated admissions scheme.

For the 2027/28 intake, nursery attendance confers no priority. After children whose SEN statement or EHC plan names the school, the priority groups cover looked-after and previously looked-after children, siblings attending Reception to Year 6 who will still attend at the date of enrolment, and qualifying children of staff. Other applications follow, with distance deciding priority within an oversubscribed group. Familiarity with Milwards therefore remains separate from entitlement to a school place.

Nursery applications go directly to the school. Return the application form to eyfsclass@milwards.essex.sch.uk; a paper copy can be obtained from the office. Visits can be arranged by appointment.

For EYFS children, gates open at 8.45am and registration is at 8.50am. Families arriving later should report to the office. These are EYFS gate and registration arrangements, so they should not be treated as a nursery session booking pattern.

Eligible families seeking 30-hour funding must apply in the term before funding is to begin. Applications can be made up to 16 weeks before the child turns three. An eligible family receives an 11-digit code to give the childcare provider, together with their national insurance number and the child’s date of birth.