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Nursery at Chase Lane Primary School and Nursery
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
A mud kitchen, woodland Welly Walks and Tiny Rugby give Chase Lane Nursery a day that extends well beyond the classroom. Apples & Pears is the nursery provision within Chase Lane Primary School and Nursery in Dovercourt, Harwich. It has an intake of two classes, each with twenty-six children, led by a qualified teacher supported by up to 4 teaching assistants.
Children can start in the term after their third birthday, subject to space. Morning and afternoon sessions sit alongside 30 hour places for eligible families, giving parents different attendance options within the school setting. The nursery has its own substantial learning area as well as access to school facilities.
Adult-planned activities and time for children to choose their own play share the timetable. Development Matters in the Early Years Foundation Stage provides the nursery's curriculum reference: here, learning includes stories, conversation, physical activity and practical exploration. Indoors, children can build, explore messy materials, enjoy books and act out roles. These are different ways to participate, rather than a day spent on one kind of task.
Outside, the garden combines a playhouse with a mud kitchen, while a large covered space keeps outdoor play possible in wet weather. Welly Walks take children into the school's wooded area. Cooking and Tiny Rugby add further practical and physical experiences, and specialist teaching brings Music, Computing and PE into the week.
Computing has a distinct setting. Nursery children have a weekly lesson in the Computing Suite, which contains 31 computers alongside LearnPads and iPads. Mouse control is practised through self-portraits, giving technology use a concrete creative purpose.
Talk for Writing begins in Nursery. Its activities include retelling stories with actions and representing events through pictures and symbols, so spoken language comes before recording ideas. The All About Me topic explores families, pets, bodies and preferences; The Colour Monster introduces discussion of feelings. In January 2024, Ofsted found nursery children curious and interested in activities including What’s in the bucket? Children also enjoyed hearing stories, with their reading journey beginning during the nursery summer term.
Parents can see learning develop through Tapestry. Staff record observations each week and share photographs alongside them, creating a regular connection between nursery activities and home. Family Friday takes place at least once per half term, inviting relatives to participate in activities and see what children have been learning.
Additional help includes Talk Boost for speech and language, and Attention Bucket for concentration and focus. These give support a specific form. Across the school, the inclusion team includes a SENCo, speech and language support, safeguarding staff and emotional literacy support assistants. Families can contact the SENCo through the school office about SEND concerns.
Supervised sessions for children bringing a packed lunch are available for an additional charge. This is a separate practical arrangement to consider alongside a morning or afternoon place.
Attending Chase Lane Nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the applicable deadline. Essex County Council manages school admissions, so that is the route for the next application. Treat the nursery choice and the Reception application as two separate decisions.
Each morning or afternoon session lasts three hours. Parental preference is considered where possible when allocating the session, and 30 hour places are offered to eligible children. Packed lunch supervision carries an additional charge; contact the school for current charges.
Uniform applies to nursery children as well as older pupils. For nursery enquiries, email admin@chaselane.essex.sch.uk. The office also has temporary telephone numbers, 01255 509641 and 01255 509643, with no voicemail facility. Office hours are 8:00am to 4:00pm, giving families a defined window for telephone contact.
Subject to places, children can join at the beginning of the term after their third birthday.
Morning and afternoon sessions each last three hours. There are also 30 hour places for eligible children, plus charged supervised packed lunch sessions.
They can use the mud kitchen, playhouse and sheltered garden space, and take Welly Walks to the onsite wooded area.
Weekly observations and photographs are shared through Tapestry. Family Friday sessions take place at least once every half term.
No. Reception requires a separate application through the normal admissions process. Essex County Council manages school admissions.
