Hayes Park School Nursery Review

A garden, a reading den and a quieter room attached to the nursery give Bees, Hayes Park School’s nursery, several different ways to play. Children can join once they turn three, with morning or afternoon attendance during term time and some 30-hour places for children aged three to four. This is provision within Hayes Park School, on Raynton Drive in Hayes.

Choice is part of its character. Children select resources themselves, while a key worker helps develop their interests and learning. Refurbishment has brought new toilets and a calm and sensory area, adding practical care facilities alongside space for quieter activity.

Indoor and outdoor play feature in each session. Bikes and scooters give children opportunities to move, while the slide and climbing frame offer another kind of physical activity. The nursery garden adds space to explore. Outdoors is part of the session’s learning environment rather than an occasional extra.

Inside, children can build in the construction centre, explore imaginative situations through role play, or choose sensory and art activities. A number corner and reading den give maths and books their own spaces. Some activities are chosen independently; others involve the key worker. That balance gives children room to pursue an idea and adult help to take it further.

Early years learning here includes solving problems, forming relationships and setting goals through play. White Rose Maths is used across the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), organising mathematical learning into manageable steps. For parents, that means play sits alongside planned learning rather than being a break from it.

In February 2022, Ofsted identified nursery vocabulary preparation and daily storytelling as part of the school’s approach to early reading. These give children experience of language and books before formal reading instruction. A separate example of nursery learning is the duckling project: children had incubators containing duck eggs that hatched, bringing a living process into their learning.

Each child has a key worker to guide their development and extend what they can do. The attached smaller room offers an alternative play space for children who need a quieter setting, including those having a difficult day or with additional needs. Support can therefore involve changing the environment as well as the activity.

Before children start, the school aims to visit families at home. Its transition planning was developed with the local authority, giving settling-in a planned place in the process. The school’s SEND team also welcomes family meetings throughout the year, providing a route to discuss a child’s needs beyond the initial start.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process. The main-school admissions page provides an online application link; successful applicants receive their notification online through the local authority.

Transition support is a separate matter from getting a place. The school has distinct transition documents for entry to Nursery and Reception, developed in partnership with the local authority. That preparation should be understood as support for starting school, rather than an admissions advantage.

Families choose five mornings or five afternoons during term time. Morning sessions run from 8:30am to 11:30am; afternoons run from 12:15pm to 3:15pm. The 30-hour pattern runs from 8:30am to 3:15pm. These different collection times matter when organising the family day.

To register interest, collect a form from the school office. Families can also book a visit to see the provision. Contact the office on 020 8573 6117 or email office@hayesparkschool.co.uk.