Barncroft Primary School Nursery Review

Play, individual learning and early support give Barncroft’s nursery its shape. Barn Owls Pre-School is part of Barncroft Primary School in Havant, with nursery provision for children aged two to four managed by the governing body. It offers a start within a school setting, while nursery admission remains separate from the application for Reception.

Children follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), with learning spread across seven connected areas. Language, movement and social development sit alongside early literacy, mathematics, exploring the world and creative expression. For parents, that means learning includes communicating needs, building relationships and developing physical skills as well as working with words and numbers.

Adult-led activities and children’s own choices both have a place, indoors and outdoors. Barncroft aims to let children develop at their own pace; staff use observations and interactions to plan the next steps for individuals. The emphasis is on adapting learning to the child.

The Characteristics of Effective Learning provide another thread: exploring through play, staying actively involved and developing independent thinking. Barncroft’s early years approach gives children opportunities to try ideas and think for themselves. Its stated aim is for children to feel secure and valued, so they are ready to engage with learning.

Support for additional needs begins before the move into school. In June 2025, targeted speech and language work helped identify the communication support younger children might need before entering early years. That gives families a concrete example of needs being considered ahead of the next stage.

Across Barncroft, the Inclusion Leader coordinates SEND support and works with families and outside specialists. Parents contribute to decisions about support, and their consent is sought before other professionals are consulted. Speech and Language Therapy and Educational Psychology are among the services involved. This creates a route for discussing concerns and agreeing help around an individual child.

Personal care also has an individual basis. Where regular help is required, the Inclusion Team develops a plan with the relevant professionals and keeps parents informed. Care arrangements emphasise privacy, communication and encouraging children to do as much as their abilities allow.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply separately through Hampshire County Council. For September 2026 entry, nursery attendance conferred no priority under the oversubscription criteria, and the application deadline was midnight on 15 January 2026. Those dates belong to that intake.

Transition support is a separate matter. The Inclusion Leader and Early Years Leader liaise with the attached preschool to identify children who may need extra help. Follow-up visits bring together the child, family and preschool staff. Existing strategies and support programmes can then be handed over, giving the receiving team useful knowledge of the child rather than an admissions advantage.

The school office can be contacted on 02392 482331 or at admin@barncroftprimary.hants.sch.uk for enquiries. Barncroft is on Park Lane, Havant, PO9 3HN.

For families with access needs, the school site has level access. Reserved disabled parking bays are available to parents with blue badges when bringing children to and from school. These are useful practical features for adults supporting a child’s attendance, as well as children with physical needs.