Wheatcroft Primary School Nursery

A morning of early learning or a day stretching to mid-afternoon: Wheatcroft’s nursery has two session patterns within the primary school’s own early-years phase. Based on Stanstead Road in Hertford, it takes children from age three. Nursery and Reception belong to the same Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) team, with a phase leader providing the link to school leadership.

The early-years provision was graded Good at the Ofsted inspection on 7 and 8 November 2023. That judgement covers the school’s early years, rather than a separately inspected nursery. Children were settling readily into learning routines, giving families a concrete indication of how the start of school life worked at that time.

Early reading has a named starting point here: Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised. Phonics begins in Nursery, introducing the relationship between letters and sounds through a planned sequence. For parents, that means the first steps towards reading have a defined approach rather than being left to chance. In November 2023, children began phonics as they became ready, and books used from early years onwards matched their sound knowledge.

EYFS is the school’s phase for its youngest learners. Nursery has separate autumn, spring and summer curriculum maps, alongside a yearly mathematics plan, giving learning a structure across the year. In November 2023, the early-years learning space had been redeveloped to support children starting their education; children listened attentively and participated willingly.

Beyond the classroom, the school has an on-site Forest School. The nursery’s wider calendar also included a trip on 3 June 2026, while an EYFS Sports Day and Picnic took place in the calendar on 3 July 2026. These were opportunities beyond the ordinary session, rather than a promise about every nursery day.

Starting gently matters. In November 2023, a planned transition programme helped children settle into early years promptly. Familiarity with routines was a practical part of that support, alongside encouragement to take responsibility and be prepared for learning.

Nursery children receive milk free of charge and a daily piece of fruit through the NHS Fruit In School programme. School meals are supplied by Hertfordshire Catering, and the kitchen caters for individual dietary needs, including nut allergies. Packed lunches are an alternative; they are kept in classrooms without refrigeration, an important detail when choosing food for the day.

For SEND concerns, the first conversation is with the class teacher, who involves the staff responsible for additional needs. Communication. In November 2023, some parents across the school felt insufficiently informed about learning and changes. Improving communication was an action for the school, so clear conversations about a child’s progress deserve attention. Subject leaders also needed more training and guidance to assess their subjects and plan improvements; this was a school-wide concern.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through Hertfordshire County Council’s school admissions process, while Wheatcroft handles nursery applications itself. Treat the next stage as a fresh application, rather than an automatic continuation of a nursery place.

The 15-hour session runs from 9:00 to 12:00; the 30-hour session runs from 9:00 to 15:00. That gives families a choice between a morning pattern and a longer day, with different collection times to build into their arrangements.

Nursery applications use an online form, and nursery tours can be booked. For enquiries, contact the school office on 01992 587899 or email admin@wheatcroft.herts.sch.uk.