Woodford Church of England Primary School Nursery

A morning or a school-length day gives Woodford’s nursery its practical shape. Provision is for children aged two to four within Woodford Church of England Primary School, on High Street in Woodford. The nursery combines sessional care with a longer option that includes lunch, giving families two distinct ways to organise attendance.

The September 2019 arrangements offered weekday sessions during school terms, with closures for training days. That calendar matters for families who need childcare during school holidays.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the required framework for early years provision. Here, staff use observations of children’s play to choose activities and resources, connecting what children do with the support they receive next.

For a concrete example of learning, the spring 2021 nursery and Reception programme used Winter Wonderland and Once upon a time as themes. Its plans included comparing weight, investigating shapes and discussing animals and people. These linked practical exploration with mathematical language and knowledge of the world.

Independence also featured in that programme: managing coat fastenings, working with others and persisting with unfamiliar tasks. Listening carefully and discussing children’s interests sat alongside those practical skills. These are useful foundations for participating in a group and managing everyday routines.

A key worker gives each child a particular member of staff responsible for their care and learning, while the wider team also interacts with children. Settling is part of that role. The key worker helps a new child adjust and answers parents’ questions, providing a clear point of contact during the move into nursery.

Observations and learning records continue that relationship beyond the first days. Parent meetings include learning journeys and discussions of progress, so families can follow their child’s development as well as raise questions.

The September 2019 food arrangements matched the attendance pattern: children staying for the longer day could bring a packed lunch or have a booked hot meal through Schoolgrid. Morning sessions included a funded snack and fruit. Confirm current meal and snack arrangements with the school. For eligible children, Early Years Pupil Premium support is allocated after considering their needs; Disability Access funding may also be claimed where a child receives Disability Living Allowance.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate school application through the normal local authority admissions process and meet its deadline. Woodford’s school applications are made online through that route. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as two separate decisions, with a fresh application required for the latter.

The September 2019 arrangements offered 9am to noon or 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, in term time. Additional paid sessions required advance agreement with nursery staff; booked sessions remained chargeable if a child did not attend. Ask the school for current charges before committing.

Those arrangements included 15 funded hours for three- and four-year-olds, eligible two-year-old funding and further sessions for parents eligible for 30 hours. Families could divide their entitlement between Woodford and another provider. Parents using the extended entitlement had to obtain an eligibility code and check it every three months.

For enquiries, contact the school on 01832 733221 or use its contact form. The school office also handles applications for Disability Access funding, giving eligible families a direct administrative route.