The FMS Inspection Score is FindMySchool's proprietary analysis based on official Ofsted and ISI inspection reports. It converts ratings into a standardised 1–10 scale for fair comparison across all schools in England.
Disclaimer: The FMS Inspection Score is an independent analysis by FindMySchool. It is not endorsed by or affiliated with Ofsted or ISI. Always refer to the official Ofsted or ISI report for the full picture of a school’s inspection outcome.
Nursery at Purford Green Primary School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Dough, story maps and a front garden give Purford Green’s nursery its own character within the primary school in Harlow. Learning combines early reading and number work with movement, conversation and practical independence. The nursery’s Life Skill Challenges include changing shoes independently, brushing teeth and explaining likes and dislikes. These are everyday tasks with a clear purpose: helping children express themselves and manage more for themselves.
Early years learning brings together language, physical development, numbers and social understanding. In spring 2026, People Who Help Us, Transport, Journeys and Adventures supplied the themes. Emergency services inspired dressing up and role play, while journeys in traditional stories prompted children to create maps. Learning about dentists also connected the topic to toothbrushing.
Books and poems formed part of daily story time. Children practised recognising starting sounds, blending spoken sounds into words and hearing rhyme. Small groups explored how books and print work, alongside vocabulary and questions about stories. Adults demonstrated purposeful writing through labels, prescriptions and shopping lists, giving mark-making a use beyond practising letter shapes.
Daily maths activities in that term included counting backwards and forwards, recognising small quantities without counting, and representing collections through pictures or symbols. Shape hunts took learning beyond a table, with children comparing flat and solid shapes around the classroom and school.
Physical activity had distinct spaces and approaches. The front garden was used daily, and Wednesday morning gymnastics took place in the main school hall, using floor work and simple equipment for balances and shapes. Squiggle while you Wiggle added movement activities, with Dough Disco for younger nursery children; dough, tweezers and hammers supported hand and finger development. Together, these activities connected larger movements with the smaller movements needed for writing.
Independence includes emotional and personal care. Nursery Life Skill Challenges ask children to practise calming themselves when upset, putting things away and using the toilet independently. These are nursery learning goals.
Class Dojo supports communication between home and nursery. During spring 2026, families could send information about a child’s chosen Show and Tell item so adults could help them talk about it. Friday Books and biscuits sessions invited parents and carers to share reading with their child, making books a shared activity between home and class.
For children with SEND, the school’s support arrangements include adapted classroom teaching, smaller groups and targeted adult help. A One Plan or Pupil Passport records individual needs and provision, with the Inclusion Leader overseeing the process. Parents contribute to planning and are invited to termly reviews. This gives families a defined opportunity to discuss whether support needs to change.
Nursery attendance gives priority in the Reception oversubscription order, after looked-after and previously looked-after children, then children with a sibling attending at application. It does not guarantee a place.
Families must make a separate Reception application to Essex County Council’s Planning and Admissions team, using either the paper or online Common Application Form. The deadline is the published closing date for that year. For children due to start Reception, a June or July parent meeting introduces the Early Years team; home visits, opportunities to try school meals and a phased start are also arranged. These preparations support transition separately from allocation of places.
The school office handles enquiries on 01279 425100, and families can arrange a school visit through the office.
Outdoor clothing matters because nursery children use the outside area in all weather. Coats and cold-weather accessories should carry the child’s name. In spring 2026, reading folders and diaries were needed each day, with a brief parental reading comment required before books were exchanged. These routines give families practical ways to support the nursery day.
No. Nursery attendance is an oversubscription priority after looked-after and previously looked-after children and children with a sibling attending at application. Families still need a separate Reception application.
Apply to Essex County Council’s Planning and Admissions team using either the paper or online Common Application Form. Submit it by that year’s published closing date.
The nursery uses its front garden daily. Children also use the outdoor area in all weather, so labelled coats and appropriate cold-weather clothing are needed.
Parents can speak with the nursery team and use Class Dojo for messages and information. In spring 2026, Dojo also helped families contribute background information for Show and Tell.
The school uses adapted teaching and, where needed, smaller groups or targeted adult support. A One Plan or Pupil Passport records needs and provision, and parents are invited to termly meetings to review support.
