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Nursery at Heronswood Primary School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Two rooms give the youngest children at Heronswood their own stages of nursery life: Herons Room for younger children and Woods Room for the cohort approaching school age. This is Heronswood Primary School’s on-site pre-school, with provision for children aged two to four. Children can begin in Herons Room in the term following their second birthday, then move to Woods Room alongside their school starter cohort. The grouping follows their next stage of education.
Early years provision received an Outstanding judgement at the Ofsted inspection on 30 April and 1 May 2024. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery.
Adult-led activities sit alongside play that children choose themselves. That balance gives children both direction and opportunities to pursue their interests. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together language, movement and personal development with early literacy, maths, creative expression and understanding the world. For parents, this means learning extends beyond letters and numbers to conversation, relationships and physical skills.
Herons Room and Woods Room provide the nursery’s two age-group spaces. Children’s clothing needs to suit outdoor as well as indoor play, with spare clothes and personal care supplies brought each day. Practical preparation matters: the expectation is that children can take part in play dressed for the weather.
Across early years, children learn to cooperate and wait for their turn. In April and May 2024, support took account of children’s differing starting points, while number work helped them become more confident with counting. These are useful foundations for both learning and sharing a classroom.
Settling is planned with families once a place has been confirmed. The induction takes the child’s needs into account, giving parents a chance to discuss the start before attendance begins. Parents also have access to Seesaw, the online learning platform, and can contact the pre-school directly at hwpre@riverscofe.co.uk.
A pre-school manager, room leads, playworkers and a lunchtime supervisor make up the team structure. For children needing additional support, the pre-school has access to speech and language therapy, the Early Years Inclusion Panel and an Early Years Area SENCo. Parents are involved in discussions about concerns and asked for consent during the identification process.
Additional staffing. A child’s start may be delayed if extra staffing is needed to support their additional needs. Their waiting-list position is retained until suitable staffing is secured, so families should account for that condition when planning a start.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place or confer priority under the 2027/2028 admission criteria. Families must make a separate application through Worcestershire Local Authority’s Common Application process, with the closing date in January each year. The local authority coordinates places and makes the offers. Choosing the nursery and applying for school are separate decisions.
Transition support is planned around the individual child, with information exchanged between settings. This supports continuity of care and learning; it does not change the admissions criteria.
Booking commitment. The minimum booking is four sessions each week. Fewer may be offered temporarily when four are unavailable, with attendance expected to increase as spaces become free. Preferred sessions are subject to availability, and children are expected to attend the whole booked session.
Funded hours depend on government eligibility and local authority requirements. Heronswood provides 30-hour funded childcare; additional hours and services attract charges. Ask the school for current charges. Booked-session fees remain payable during absence unless a different arrangement is agreed in writing.
Request a booking form by emailing hwpre@riverscofe.co.uk. Personalised tours can be arranged through hwoffice@riverscofe.co.uk or 01562 69750. Collection and drop-off must match the allocated session times, and parents must sign children in and out. Late collection may lead to transfer to Wrap Around Care with an additional charge.
Children can join Herons Room from the term after their second birthday. Woods Room is for the school starter cohort, with September entry and possible January or April entry subject to availability.
Four sessions per week. A temporary smaller booking may be offered if four sessions are unavailable, with sessions increasing as spaces become available.
No. Nursery attendance does not guarantee a place or confer priority under the 2027/2028 criteria. A separate Worcestershire Local Authority application is required by the January closing date.
Once a place is confirmed, the pre-school works with the family to plan induction and settling around the child’s needs.
Contact the school office at hwoffice@riverscofe.co.uk or 01562 69750 to arrange a personalised tour.
