Lighthorne Heath Primary School Nursery Review

A Nursery room, an EYFS garden and teacher-led mornings give Lighthorne Heath Nursery its shape. This is the nursery within Lighthorne Heath Primary School, with children joining from the start of the term following their third birthday. It forms part of the school's Early Years Foundation Stage alongside Reception, so nursery education sits within the school rather than as a separate setting.

The emphasis is on play and exploration. A qualified teacher plans and leads every session, giving the morning a teaching framework while allowing activities to respond to children's interests and development.

Learning follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), the framework covering early education, development and care. Across its seven connected learning areas, staff use play to bring learning together rather than treating each area as a separate lesson. Observations of children's development, needs and interests inform the planning. For parents, that means children's interests help shape what they explore.

Indoors, children use the Nursery room; outdoors, exploration takes place in the EYFS garden. These give the morning both an indoor base and opportunities to investigate outside. The school aims for early learning that encourages discovery, questions and increasing independence.

The local community also becomes a learning setting. Nursery children take walks around the area as part of geography learning, connecting their experiences with the place where they live. Warwick Bear brings road safety into nursery learning through Warwickshire's Road Safety Code. Children learn to pause before the kerb, check for traffic and hold an adult's hand while crossing. That gives families practical messages to reinforce on their own journeys.

Communication about early learning combines review meetings, conversations in person and weekly learning letters. Parents and staff exchange information about progress, linking what happens at home with learning in school.

Emotion Coaching is a school-wide approach, with training for all staff. Adults acknowledge a child's feelings, then discuss behaviour and possible solutions once the child is calmer. The approach distinguishes recognising an emotion from accepting inappropriate behaviour. The Associate Head Teacher also holds the SENDCo role, giving families an identified role for discussions about additional needs.

In October 2022, Ofsted found that early-years staff taught children how to listen to one another, share turns and play safely. These are practical foundations for spending a morning learning with other children.

School dinners are provided by Educaterers, and the school holds themed lunches. These are school-wide meal arrangements. Ask the school about food arrangements for nursery children.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through their home local authority. For September 2026 entry, the application deadline was 15 January 2026; that admissions cycle is now past.

Transition support is a separate matter. During the summer term before Reception begins, children and their families meet school staff. This gives them an opportunity to begin relationships before the change of class, rather than making admission automatic.

Morning sessions run five days a week, from 8:55am until 12:00 noon, during term time. This is a morning attendance pattern, so families need to plan care beyond midday separately.

From the term following a child's third birthday, Early Education Funding (EEF) provides up to 15 funded nursery hours each week. Contact the school office for current charges. Nursery enquiries and visits can be arranged by telephone on 01926 640326 or by email at admin2064@welearn365.com. An enquiry form also routes questions through the office to the appropriate staff member.