West Blatchington Primary and Nursery School Nursery Review

Owlets gives West Blatchington’s nursery its own class identity within a primary school on Hangleton Way in Hove. Its staffing combines nursery teachers with a nursery nurse, placing teaching and nursery care roles together in the early years team.

Nursery learning uses themes. The school is developing connections between these themes and the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) units in its longer-term planning. For parents, the useful distinction is that nursery learning uses themes; the IPC itself is the core framework for Years 1 to 6.

The daily timetable gives the nursery two finishing points: noon or 3:05pm. Children must be in class for 8:45am registration, and nursery lunchtime runs from noon until 1pm. Those timings make the midday boundary significant: it is both a collection point and the start of lunch for children staying longer.

A wildlife garden is part of the wider school grounds. The school links its gardening and eco clubs to learning about food origins and caring for the environment. This gives the school’s outdoor character a concrete focus.

Teaching responsibility is shared across the week: one nursery teacher covers Monday to Wednesday, while another covers Thursday and Friday. A nursery nurse is also part of the team. Beyond the class, the staffing structure includes an EYFS individual needs assistant and a nursery midday supervisor, giving parents distinct teaching, individual support and lunchtime roles to understand.

Support also sits within the wider school. The Inclusion Team works with children individually and in groups on emotional, behavioural and social needs. Partnerships include Speech and Language, the Education Psychology Service and the Learning Support Service. These are relevant points of contact for families whose concerns extend beyond classroom learning.

For children learning English as an additional language, the school says it values their home language and background. Its approach uses targeted resources alongside adjustments to planning, teaching and assessment. Parents can also meet senior leaders to discuss concerns, with appointments arranged through the office when needed.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place and does not confer priority under the school’s admission priorities. Families must make a separate Reception application through Brighton & Hove City Council’s School Admissions service, meeting the normal application deadline.

When demand exceeds places, the priorities include looked-after and previously looked-after children, compelling medical or other exceptional reasons to attend the school, siblings and linked infant-to-junior transfers, followed by other children. Distance decides between children within a priority group. Choosing Owlets therefore remains a nursery decision; the later school application needs its own attention.

Personal nursery tours can be arranged through the school office. For a tour or nursery application enquiry, call 01273 770777 or email admin@wblatch.brighton-hove.sch.uk. Office contact hours are Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 15:30.

For collection and drop-off, parents use the pedestrian gate beside the car park. Families must keep vehicles outside the school grounds: the car park is reserved for staff and deliveries. Punctual collection is requested, so the noon or 3:05pm finish should be built into the family’s daily arrangements.