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Nursery at Kingham 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Baking on Wednesdays, Forest School on Thursdays and countryside views from the play area give Kingham’s nursery a distinct rhythm. Children can join from three, with a maximum of 26 attending any session. This is the school’s own nursery class, housed within a purpose-built Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) unit.
The nursery has its own classroom while sharing some facilities with Reception. At the inspection on 2 and 3 July 2024, Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Outstanding. That judgement covers early years collectively, rather than giving the nursery a separate grade.
Purposeful play shapes the learning. Within the EYFS, activities respond to children’s ages and individual needs; the school aims to build learning around their interests and curiosity. For parents, that means an approach which connects developing skills with things children want to explore.
The weekday themes make the programme concrete: Monday brings PE, Tuesday has Arts and Crafts, and Wednesday centres on Baking. Forest School follows on Thursday, with Fine Motor Fun! on Friday. Alongside these themes are toys and games. Books connect with termly topics from Nursery onwards, bringing stories, different authors and poetry into the learning.
Outdoor space extends the classroom. A secure play area is shared with Reception, while the outdoor classroom and school field can be used when other groups are not using them. The nursery classroom also has toilets and washing facilities designed for this age group, keeping everyday care close to the learning space.
In July 2024, staff developed children’s language through skilled exchanges from their first nursery days. Children sustained their attention and persevered with activities they had chosen. The emphasis is on conversation as well as play.
A qualified teacher leads the nursery, with support from at least one appropriately qualified teaching assistant. Staffing allows no more than 13 children per adult; the ratio is generally lower, depending on enrolment and session attendance. This gives families a clear picture of how the class is organised.
Before starting, the school encourages new children to visit, and recommends a visit ahead of admission for children with SEND. Its early years approach also welcomes parents’ involvement in learning. Families receive details of teaching activities and objectives each term, helping them connect home interests with nursery learning.
Additional needs were recognised promptly and support followed quickly in July 2024. Across the school, parents are contacted when staff have concerns about possible SEND, and children on the SEND register have a personalised My Plan identifying strategies and interventions.
Lunch stays within the nursery. Children attending across the day, or joining for an afternoon, may bring a suitable packed lunch; a cooked meal is another option and carries a charge. Families can therefore choose between food from home and a school meal.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee admission to Kingham’s Reception class. Parents must make a separate application through Oxfordshire County Council, either online or with a paper Common Application Form. The deadline is generally in January before the September start, so families need to plan that application while their child is still attending nursery.
Shared outdoor space and facilities provide continuity for children who subsequently receive a Reception place. Familiar surroundings support the change of class. They do not replace the admissions process.
Sessions operate on weekdays in school term time, subject to availability. Mornings run from 08:45 to 12:00; afternoons run from 12:00 to 15:15. A lunch hour can be added to a morning booking. Contact the school office for nursery applications and enquiries at contact@kingham.oxon.sch.uk or 01608 658366.
Funding provides up to 15 hours weekly from the term following a child’s third birthday until they start Reception or reach the age of compulsory education. Eligible working parents may qualify for up to 30 hours for three- and four-year-olds, but up to 15 hours of that entitlement may be used here, provided the child attends no more than two sites in a day. Other providers can be used to stretch extended hours beyond term time.
Optional paid sessions are subject to availability, taking attendance to up to 30 hours weekly including funded hours. Buying extra hours is not a condition of receiving the 15 funded hours. Fees are invoiced a half term ahead; individual sessions are invoiced when booked. Ask the school for current charges. Wellies are needed for nursery outdoor learning.
Children can join from the age of three, subject to availability. Each session accommodates a maximum of 26 children.
Morning sessions run from 08:45 to 12:00 and afternoons from 12:00 to 15:15, on weekdays during school term time. A lunch hour can be added to a morning session, subject to availability.
Children staying through the day or arriving for the afternoon may bring a suitable packed lunch. A cooked lunch is also available for a charge, and children eat in the nursery.
The school offers up to 15 funded hours weekly from the term after a child’s third birthday until they start Reception or reach the age of compulsory education. Eligible working parents may qualify for up to 30 hours, but up to 15 hours of that entitlement may be used at Kingham, provided the child attends no more than two sites in one day.
No. Parents need to apply separately through Oxfordshire County Council, online or using a paper Common Application Form. The deadline is generally in January for admission the following September.
