Loxford School Nursery Review

Three-hour sessions give Loxford’s nursery a clear daily shape: a morning or afternoon of learning and play within the all-through school on Loxford Lane, Ilford. The school’s age range begins at three. This is school-attached early education, with its own nursery entrance and collection routine.

Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Outstanding at the inspection on 1 and 2 November 2023. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery. The nursery-specific findings give substance to it: children sustained their attention, explored learning through activities planned by adults, and played alongside one another cooperatively.

Both sessions last three hours, running from 8:30am to 11:30am and from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. For families, these are distinct blocks around which to organise the rest of the day.

Learning follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Its seven connected areas bring together language, movement and emotional development with early literacy, maths, exploration of the world and creative expression. In parent terms, learning to communicate and get along with other children belongs alongside learning about numbers and written language. The curriculum treats these as connected parts of a child’s development.

In November 2023, nursery children had plentiful learning resources, and adults selected activities with a clear learning purpose while encouraging exploration. Children showed sustained concentration and worked and played together. The practical implication is a nursery experience where participation with other children forms part of learning, alongside exploring something new.

Language support in the foundation stage builds on children’s home languages and experiences. Children practise speaking and listening with adults and other children while extending their English vocabulary. This gives families using another language at home a clear connection between that experience and learning English at nursery.

Within the primary phase, SEND support has a primary SEND coordinator and links to the Early Years Support and Advisory Service and Speech and Language Therapy. Families can contact the SEND department through the school telephone number. These are useful points of contact for discussing a child’s individual needs.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place at Loxford. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet the applicable deadline. Treat that application as a separate task from choosing nursery sessions.

Transition preparation is a different matter. Children joining Reception are invited to spend time in their future classroom, and parents have a welcome meeting in the preceding term. For children with identified SEND, the Inclusion Leader attends transition reviews with their nursery or preschool. Additional visits and help from early years or speech and language specialists may be arranged where appropriate. This preparation helps staff understand the child’s needs; it does not secure an admission place.

Morning drop-off runs from 8:30am to 8:45am. The gate opens at 11:15am, with collection beginning at 11:25am. Afternoon drop-off is between 12:30pm and 12:45pm; the gate opens at 3:15pm for collection from 3:25pm. Parents take children to, and collect them from, the main nursery door. The collection windows matter when planning another school run or work commitment.

For nursery enquiries, contact the primary office at Primary@loxford.net or telephone 020 8514 4666. Loxford School is on Loxford Lane, Ilford, IG1 2UT.