Front Lawn Primary Academy Nursery Review

Stories, rhymes and early conversation give Front Lawn Primary Academy’s nursery its clearest character. This is the school’s own provision in Leigh Park, Havant, with learning that starts before formal schooling and gives language a central place in the day. In April 2023, it catered for two- and three-year-olds.

Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Outstanding at its inspection on 25 and 26 April 2023. That judgement covers early years within the school. For parents considering the nursery, the most useful detail is the attention paid to children’s communication, social development and early mathematics.

Regular storytelling and rhymes begin in Nursery. They give children repeated opportunities to hear language, enjoy its sounds and become familiar with stories. Early literacy also includes learning letter sounds and practising letter formation. Reading and writing therefore start with concrete experiences: listening, recognising sounds and making letters, rather than being left until the next stage.

In April 2023, early years staff gave close attention to mathematical understanding alongside communication and social skills. The emphasis reaches beyond letters. It brings together the language children use, how they relate to others and their first mathematical learning, all useful foundations for taking part in a classroom.

Understanding other people also starts early. Teaching about cultures, faiths and different ways of living begins in early years, giving children an introduction to lives beyond their own experience. Alongside the focus on social development, this makes learning about other people part of the curriculum from the outset.

In April 2023, children in early years flourished with the care staff provided. That finding matters for families choosing a first school experience: the adult support surrounding learning was a strength of the provision at that point.

The attention to social and communication skills adds a practical dimension to that care. Children’s relationships and their ability to communicate receive deliberate teaching attention alongside mathematics. For a young child, those areas are closely connected to participating in learning with other children; academic foundations are only part of the picture.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process, even when their child already attends the nursery. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as separate decisions.

Preparation for the next stage is a different matter. The nursery’s stories, sound work and letter practice build early literacy foundations. In April 2023, this learning helped children begin Reception well. That is an educational benefit, rather than a promise about admission.

The nursery belongs to Front Lawn Primary Academy on Broadmere Avenue, Leigh Park, Havant, PO9 5HX. The school’s telephone number is 02392475904. These contact details give families a direct point of contact for the school that runs the provision.