Purwell Primary School Nursery Review

Daily phonics foundations and outdoor learning give Purwell’s nursery its character. This is nursery provision within Purwell Primary School in Hitchin, with an early years approach that combines activities led by adults with learning children choose themselves. The emphasis is on communication, growing independence and taking children’s interests seriously.

Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good at its September 2024 inspection. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.

Children’s choices have a place alongside planned teaching. Adults take account of individual needs and interests when shaping activities, so the balance is between purposeful adult input and opportunities for children to pursue their own ideas. Purwell describes its early years space as spacious, with two outdoor learning environments given the same importance as the indoor space. Outdoor learning is part of the educational approach rather than simply a break from it.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together early reading and maths, creative expression, physical development and understanding the world. It also covers language, relationships and emotional development. For parents, that means the learning goes beyond preparation for reading: listening, speaking and becoming more independent are explicit aims.

Little Wandle Letters and Sounds is the school’s phonics programme. Nursery children have daily phase 1 activities to build the foundations for later phonics learning. This gives early reading preparation a regular place in the day. In September 2024, children in early years enjoyed shared rhymes and stories, and developed their language and communication successfully. Those experiences give conversation and listening a clear purpose within learning.

Routines matter here. In September 2024, early years children adapted quickly to them, while the youngest children formed positive relationships from the start. The Purwell Way provides explicitly taught expectations and routines, with expectations understood from Nursery onwards. For a young child, this makes the social side of school part of what they learn, alongside the curriculum.

There were also school-wide concerns in September 2024, which should be kept distinct from the early years findings. Some teaching activities did not fit pupils’ existing understanding or abilities closely enough, slowing progress for some. A few parents experienced slow contact or insufficient explanations for decisions. For families, the practical considerations are how teaching responds to a child’s progress and how clearly concerns are discussed with home.

Attending Purwell’s nursery does not guarantee a place in its Reception class. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the applicable deadline. Choosing the nursery and securing a school place are separate decisions.

The nursery’s daily phonics foundations support preparation for the next stage of learning. That educational preparation should be understood separately from entitlement to a Reception place.

Purwell Primary School is on Fairfield Way in Hitchin. Families can arrange a tour by calling 01462432950 or emailing admin@purwell.herts.sch.uk. When booking, ask whether the tour includes the nursery’s learning spaces.