Pear Tree Mead Academy Nursery Review

A mud kitchen, climbing space and quieter indoor areas give Pear Tree Mead’s nursery several ways to spend a session. This is the school’s own early years provision in Harlow, with separate arrangements for its youngest children: Pre-school takes some children from age 2 on a part-time basis, while children can join Nursery when they turn 3, attending part time or full time.

Nursery occupies the first section of the school, alongside Reception. Its rooms include a kitchen and spaces for practical activities and quieter play, plus two outdoor play areas. Pre-school has a separate base with an entrance and outdoor space of its own. That distinction matters for families choosing between the provision for two-year-olds and the Nursery class.

Making and exploring have a concrete place in the day. Children can use construction and creative spaces both outdoors and indoors, with daily opportunities to pursue their own creations as well as adult-supported projects linked to topics. This gives children a choice between following an idea of their own and working on something with help.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) organises learning into seven areas. Here, the school places emphasis on talking, social development and physical activity, alongside a curriculum organised around topics. The aim is increasing independence: children learning to communicate, try unfamiliar experiences and express their ideas.

White Rose Maths provides the early years number approach. Pre-school focuses on numbers 0–3; Nursery works with numbers to 5. Art involves experimenting with tools and materials, giving children practice in the small hand movements needed for later writing. These are practical starting points, rather than a day defined solely by formal tasks.

Outside, the early years area shared with Reception includes a mud kitchen, a climbing area, hard surfacing and covered facilities. Children therefore have spaces for messy exploration and movement as well as indoor making. The early years physical programme includes parachute games, throwing and catching scarves, and circuits, with a 20-minute swimming session in the summer term.

Getting to know the family begins with an induction home visit at the start of term. It is an informal meeting with parents and children, providing an opportunity to begin that relationship before nursery routines become familiar.

The Nursery team includes a manager and deputy manager. The manager holds a level 4 qualification and has first aid training. Within Pre-school, staff experience includes supporting children with SEND and autism, alongside paediatric first aid training. These are relevant team skills for families whose children need additional help or care.

During the Ofsted inspection on 21 and 22 February 2023, early years children were found to form close bonds with adults. Children who had difficulty regulating their behaviour received help to understand kindness and appropriate conduct. For parents, those findings give a concrete picture of the adult support behind the learning activities.

Families can also approach the school’s Family Support Team about personal or school-related difficulties. Mind in West Essex provides a support worker at the school once a week, including time to help individual parents support their children at home.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route by the normal deadline. Treat choosing Nursery and securing a school place as separate decisions.

Sharing an outdoor area with Reception gives Nursery children a connection with the next stage’s surroundings. That physical connection is separate from admission entitlement; it should not be read as a promise of a place.

Part-time attendance is available from age 2 in Pre-school, while Nursery offers part-time or full-time attendance from age 3. Pre-school entry is restricted to children qualifying for the two-year-old free places scheme through either FEEE2 or FEEE2W. That eligibility condition applies specifically to Pre-school.

For nursery enquiries, contact the school office on 01279 836181 or email info@peartreemead.essex.sch.uk. Visits to look around the school can be arranged through the office. This is a useful opportunity to see the separate Pre-school base and Nursery spaces when considering which provision suits your child.