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Nursery at Dr South's Church of England 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Willow Class brings nursery and Reception children together, giving the youngest children a shared early years base within Dr South's Church of England Primary School in Islip. Nursery entry begins in the term following a child's third birthday. This is the school's own nursery provision, with morning and afternoon sessions rather than a separate setting.
The school describes its Christian character as inclusive and welcomes families with other beliefs or none. For parents, that means choosing a nursery within a church school whose ethos extends across school life.
Practical learning shapes the approach. Willow Class follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), with teaching organised for individuals, small groups and the class together. In everyday terms, early learning includes handling materials, developing number skills and beginning to connect letters with reading. The school site includes the Lin Cooper Practical Skills building, used for practical learning across its classes.
Read Write Inc. is the named approach to phonics and early reading in the early years. Trained staff teach small groups organised by ability, so the grouping follows children's learning rather than simply their age. Music teaching starts with a specialist teacher, and singing features in lessons and collective worship.
Preparation for writing took several practical forms in Ofsted's October 2024 findings: clay modelling of shapes and letters, scissors that children used independently, and adult help with forming letters. These developed hand control and supported later literacy. Adults also guided accurate counting. Inspectors found children enthusiastic about learning in settled, cheerful early years surroundings.
A separate concern from that inspection applied across the school's curriculum: checks on children's understanding needed greater consistency. Parents should distinguish those specific strengths in early years activities from the wider work needed to establish what learning children retain.
Additional needs are addressed through the class teacher and the special educational needs coordinator (SENCO). Before or at admission, the school meets parents to discuss a child's needs; professionals from an earlier setting may also contribute. That gives families a way to bring existing support into the conversation from the start.
For children on the SEND register, parents are invited to review meetings three times a year. Support follows an assess, plan, do and review cycle, with parental views considered when provision changes. The school also makes adjustments to teaching and the environment for children with disabilities. These arrangements give parents defined opportunities to discuss both progress and practical barriers to participation.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place and gives no priority for September 2027 admission. Families must submit a fresh application through the local authority admissions process, with Oxfordshire County Council providing the route for local families. The deadline for the 2027-2028 academic year is 15 January 2027.
Sharing Willow Class with Reception is part of the nursery's organisation. It does not replace the separate application. Choose the nursery for the early years experience, and keep the Reception application as a distinct task.
Morning nursery sessions run from 9am to noon; afternoon sessions run from noon to 3pm. These are the nursery's session times, so families should plan their day around the appropriate start and finish.
For nursery enquiries, contact the school office on 01865 372 323 or email office.3655@dr-souths.oxon.sch.uk. The nursery is on Bletchingdon Road in Islip, OX5 2TQ.
Children can join from the term after their third birthday.
The morning session runs from 9am to noon, and the afternoon session from noon to 3pm.
Willow Class includes both Nursery and Reception.
No. It neither guarantees a place nor gives priority for September 2027 admission. A separate local authority application is required by 15 January 2027 for the 2027-2028 academic year.
Parents discuss their child's needs with the school before or at admission. Parents of children on the SEND register are invited to review meetings three times a year.
