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Nursery at Birchwood Nursery 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Storybooks, cooking and outdoor discovery give Birchwood its character. In Hatfield, this maintained nursery school brings together Preschool from age two and Nursery provision for three and four-year-olds, with children able to remain until the term of their fifth birthday. There are 104 funded Nursery places: 52 morning places and 52 full-day places offering 30 hours.
Two Nursery classrooms share a large garden. Preschool has three rooms and its own outdoor area, used daily, so the younger children have a distinct setting within the same school.
Learning combines activities guided by adults with play children choose themselves. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) covers seven areas, bringing language, movement and relationships together with literacy, maths, creativity and exploration of the world. In practice, that means talking about stories, sorting objects, painting, building and solving puzzles. Activities cross those boundaries: cooking involves listening, handling ingredients and counting as well as making something to eat.
Books give this learning a recognisable thread. In February 2026, The Gruffalo inspired clay creatures, homes for toy characters and a crumble-making activity. April brought Jack and the Beanstalk, bean planting and green bean fritters. The allotment included tomatoes, potatoes and red onions, with children making labels and watering plants. These are concrete connections between a story, something growing and something children can prepare themselves.
Outdoor play includes a pirate ship, a sandpit and equipment for climbing, swinging and balancing. Nursery children also have fortnightly Forest School sessions with a qualified Forest School teacher. This gives outdoor learning a recurring place in their timetable.
At the February 2024 inspection, children sustained their interest in learning, and staff developed vocabulary across different activities: a word encountered while examining leaves was revisited during cookery. The emphasis was on using new language, rather than simply hearing it.
A key person is assigned before each child starts. Home visits, sessions with a parent or carer and a photo booklet introduce the people and spaces ahead of separation. Nursery attendance begins with an hour, with flexibility over the next stage. That gives families time to establish familiarity before a longer session.
Tapestry shares observations with home; Nursery children also have a Family Book. A Settling In Dialogue follows the start, with further conversations during the year and an end-of-year report. Parents can add learning from home, making communication a two-way exchange.
For children needing additional support, SEND Personal Learning Plans are reviewed with parents each term. Makaton and visual prompts support communication. The February 2024 inspection found that tailored sessions helped some children with complex needs, alongside participation with their peers; safeguarding arrangements were effective.
Milk and healthy snacks accompany each session, with a voluntary contribution requested. Full-day Nursery attendance includes a charged cooked lunch, and dietary needs are catered for. Some children staying all day may nap during the afternoon; quiet areas also provide space to pause. Nappy changing and toilet-training support are available for children who need them.
Birchwood is a nursery school, so the next step is a receiving school. Attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet the relevant deadline.
Preparation is a separate matter. Links with local Reception classes, transition stories and activities help children approach the move. Some children receive extra visits or a personalised photo booklet; a few may be accompanied to their next setting by their Birchwood key person. These arrangements support familiarity, rather than securing admission.
The funded 15-hour Nursery pattern runs Monday to Friday, 09:00–12:00, during term time. Eligible families can seek a limited 30-hour place, running 09:00–15:00; eligibility alone does not secure one. Eligibility must be reconfirmed every three months. Families using 15 funded hours can purchase at least two afternoons per week, subject to availability, with a commitment for the academic year.
Breakfast Club runs 08:00–09:00. Tea Club extends the day, with the booked finish time to be confirmed when arranging care. Lunch and extended sessions carry charges; parents supply nappies, creams and similar consumables where needed. Ask the school for current charges.
Preschool offers sessional or full-day care over 38 weeks. Applications go directly to Birchwood, and visits can be arranged through the office on 01707 262648. Logo clothing is optional. The car park is closed to parents and visitors during the school day, so nearby street parking requires consideration for neighbours.
Preschool accepts children from their second birthday. Nursery serves three and four-year-olds, who can remain until the term they turn five.
Limited funded 30-hour places run 09:00–15:00 for eligible families. Families taking 15 funded hours can purchase two or more afternoons each week, subject to availability and an academic-year commitment.
Children have a designated key person, a home visit offer and settling sessions with their parent or carer. Nursery begins with an hour, and the next stage can be adjusted to the child.
No. Reception requires a separate application through the normal admissions process. Transition activities and links with receiving schools help prepare children for the move.
No. A school-logo polo shirt and sweatshirt are optional.
