Horsham Nursery School: Nursery Review

A garden used throughout the session, a children's kitchen and a private woodland site give play plenty of room at Horsham Nursery School. The focus here is the Over 3’s nursery school provision for children aged 3 to 5, distinct from the younger Explorers and Discoverers groups. Its purpose-built, open-plan building also houses the Special Support Centre (SSC), where children with significant speech and language needs use the wider nursery alongside smaller intervention spaces.

This is a nursery school in its own right. The next step is primary school elsewhere, rather than Reception within the same school.

Play and exploration shape the curriculum. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together communication, movement and relationships with early reading, writing, maths, creativity and understanding the world. Children make their own books, act out stories and investigate weight and capacity using water and sand. These are practical ways to connect language and number with something they can handle and try.

Indoors, a workshop, graphics area and music room give different interests their own spaces. Outside, children can ride scooters, explore vegetable beds or play in the mud patch. Boots and wet-weather clothing are provided, so outdoor play continues across the seasons. The garden is accessible throughout each session, with staff supporting learning there as they do indoors.

Forest School sessions take place regularly at a private site, led by a leader with Level 3 certification. Bug hunts, habitat building and supervised tool use bring a different kind of challenge. Children also help with fire lighting and cooking. The nursery became a Recognised Forest School Provider in March 2025.

Ofsted's inspection on 20 May 2025 found that focused group teaching used knowledge of children's development effectively, but some child-chosen activities needed closer adaptation to individual needs. For families, the distinction matters: organised teaching and children's own play both need to move learning forward.

Every child has a Key Carer, the main contact for parents and the adult responsible for supporting their start. For Over 3’s children, that relationship begins with a home visit, followed by an opportunity to spend time at nursery before starting. Parents are encouraged to remain nearby or readily contactable on the first day. Regular updates and letters usually reach families by email.

Communication support has several forms. Makaton signs are used with all children; SSC children can use Rainbow Room for individual speech and language work, turn-taking games and Attention Autism sessions. The SSC team includes a teacher, qualified teaching assistants and a Speech and Language Therapist working three days a week. A smaller space and targeted sessions give children alternatives to the open-plan setting.

Chartwells Catering Company cooks lunch on site for the Over 3’s. Breakfast includes cereal, milk and toast for children attending from 8am, while tea is also prepared on site. Families help plan special diets, including changes relating to allergies. Children sometimes help prepare tea using produce they have grown in the allotment.

In May 2025, safeguarding was effective, but staff did not consistently apply the agreed behaviour approach, leaving some children with uneven support for learning behaviours. This is a useful point to explore during a visit alongside the settling arrangements.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate primary-school application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline.

Once a school place has been allocated, nursery staff work with the receiving school. Future class teachers, and SENCOs where appropriate, can visit children at nursery before the move. Horsham School Partnership membership connects the nursery with schools in east Horsham; these transition relationships are separate from admission decisions.

The 15-hour funded pattern is five mornings, 9am to noon, or five afternoons, 1pm to 4pm. Some two-and-a-half-day patterns are also offered. Families choose a core pattern, then add sessions using eligible 30-hour funding or paid hours. One option takes the 30 hours across three full days, 8am to 6pm. Where sessions include meals, families pay for them or supply packed meals.

Holiday cover. The Over 3’s provision follows school terms and closes for five INSET days annually. A separately booked holiday club gives priority to working parents needing full-time care, so families needing year-round provision should plan around that booking model.

Register through the registration form or contact the office on 01403 224430 or office@horshamnursery.co.uk. Individual tours can be booked through the office. Ask the school for current charges.