Bowerdean Nursery School: play, stories and woodland learning

Seasonal stories, messy play and woodland sessions give Bowerdean its character. Children choose activities indoors and outside for much of their session, with adults adding cooking, songs and stories that extend their learning. Choice has a practical place in the day.

On Gordon Road in High Wycombe, Bowerdean welcomes children aged two to four. It is a maintained nursery school within the Growing Together Federation, alongside Mapledean and Henry Allen Nursery Schools. This is nursery education in its own right, with children moving to another school for Reception.

Play takes the largest share of the session. Children select classroom or outdoor activities, while adults work individually or with small groups on purposeful tasks such as counting songs and cooking. Planning follows children's developing interests, so their choices help shape what happens next.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together communication, physical skills and relationships with early literacy, mathematics, creativity and understanding the world. Here, seasonal change and stories connect those areas. Weekly planning starts with a book, giving children repeated opportunities to revisit vocabulary and ideas. The curriculum also encourages children to attempt something, repeat it and refine their skills.

Inside, children can use puppets and dressing-up clothes, build with construction resources, model clay and explore instruments. Book spaces have comfortable chairs. Outdoors, bikes and trikes sit alongside opportunities to climb and play with balls. Daily access in different weather makes outdoor learning part of ordinary nursery life.

Forest School takes children to Keep Hill Wood for sessions lasting two to three hours over at least six weeks. Typical activities include making dens, searching for insects and using a mud kitchen; a rope swing and hammock offer other ways to explore movement. A qualified Level 3 Forest School Leader with paediatric first aid runs sessions. Families take children directly to the woods and collect them there, an important difference from the usual nursery journey. The aim is for each child to participate during their time at Bowerdean.

Home visits begin the planning process, helping staff get to know children and families before building an initial picture of their needs. An initial written report is produced in the first half-term and shared with parents. ClassDojo carries planning, story links and music for home, while termly consultations use learning journals and progress reports to support discussion. Parents have several ways to contribute.

Daily snacks combine fruit with a carbohydrate food, alongside milk and water. Parents whose children stay for lunch are encouraged to provide a healthy packed lunch, avoiding sweets and sugary drinks. Tell the key person about allergies or dietary requirements. Quiet, comfortable spaces give children somewhere to pause away from activity.

For children needing additional support, the White Room provides a low-stimulation space led by a specialist SEN teacher and Nursery Nurses. Its staffing model is four or five adults for no more than eight children. Makaton is taught across the nursery, giving children another means of communication. Toileting support and nappy-changing facilities are also included in the local offer. At the November 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that additional needs were recognised promptly and safeguarding arrangements were effective.

Attending Bowerdean does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal Reception admissions process and meet its deadline. Nursery attendance and the next school's allocation process are separate decisions.

For children with SEND, preparation includes contact with receiving schools, introductory meetings with teachers and sessions at the new school. Extra visits can be arranged where needed, and photo transition books help children discuss their next setting. These steps support familiarity; they do not secure admission.

Bowerdean runs in term time. Morning sessions are 08:45–11:45 and afternoons 12:15–15:15. The 30-hour pattern runs 08:45–15:30 from Monday to Thursday, then 08:45–11:45 on Friday. Breakfast care starts at 08:00, and after-school care ends at 16:15.

The school describes 15 funded hours for eligible two-year-olds and all three- and four-year-olds, with 30 hours for eligible three- and four-year-olds. Two-year-olds do not attend full days. Consistent session patterns are encouraged. Extended care depends on staffing and requires advance half-term booking; charges still apply during absence. Contact the office for current charges and to arrange a visit before joining the waiting list: office@bowerdean.bucks.sch.uk or 01494 521941.

There is no set uniform. Send named clothing suitable for messy outdoor play, spare clothes and shoes, plus waterproofs and wellies when needed.