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Nursery at Lightwater Village Infant School and Nursery
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Acorns and Saplings give Lightwater’s nursery its own identity within the infant school on Catena Rise. Children can join from age 2, with a nursery teacher in Acorns and room leads in Saplings, supported by nursery practitioners. The provision follows the school’s term-time calendar, so its rhythm suits families arranging childcare around school holidays.
Playing and learning sit together here. In September 2022, Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good and found that children settled promptly into activities, with high expectations from the outset. That finding concerns early years within the school inspection, rather than a separate nursery judgement.
Early reading also starts within early years. In September 2022, phonics teaching followed a consistent sequence: children were introduced systematically to the sounds used in reading. This gives the learning day a purposeful early literacy strand alongside play.
The staffing structure connects nursery care with family support: one Saplings room lead also holds the Home School Link Worker role. The wider inclusion team includes an Early Years SENCo, giving families a specific early years contact for additional needs. Parents of children with SEND are encouraged to contact the SENCo before joining, so their child’s interests, strengths and support needs can inform the first weeks.
Support is planned with families. Learning Plans are reviewed termly, using a cycle of assessing needs, planning help, putting it into practice and reviewing its effect. Specialist support includes nursery children with a Surrey Support plan. For children with complex needs, families and involved agencies agree a transition plan together, making the handover part of the support process.
Lunch offers a practical choice. Children can have a meal prepared by the school kitchen or bring a healthy packed lunch. Those attending a Wednesday half-day do not receive lunch, which matters when arranging meals around the shorter session.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place, and there is no automatic transfer. Families must make a separate application through their home local authority’s normal admissions process, meeting the deadline for their child’s intake.
For the 2026/27 intake, nursery attendance conferred no Reception priority. The criteria covered children in care or previously in care, qualifying siblings, children of staff and other applicants, with distance used to rank applications. Familiarity with the school does not change those rules.
The September 2026 Reception application deadline was 15 January 2026. Surrey County Council coordinated that intake. Families choosing nursery now should keep their child’s later Reception application as a separate task.
Three attendance patterns are offered: a full Monday-to-Friday week, the first part of the week including Wednesday morning, or the second part beginning on Wednesday afternoon. Drop-off runs from 8.40am to 8.50am, with collection at 2.50pm. Wednesday morning ends at 11.20am; the afternoon begins at 12.10pm. Agree the session timings when booking.
Funded and parent-paid places are offered. The universal entitlement provides 15 hours a week from the term after a child turns 3. Eligible working parents may qualify for 30 hours, while some 2-year-olds qualify for 15 hours through FEET/Disadvantage Funding from the term after they turn 2. Working-parent funding requires an application for a code. Ask the school for current charges for paid sessions and school lunches.
Children are expected to wear a school-coloured sweatshirt and t-shirt with black shorts, leggings or jogging bottoms. For nursery enquiries or a tour, email nursery@lightwatervillageschool.org.
Children are eligible from age 2.
Yes. Alongside the full week, there are first-half and second-half weekly patterns, divided at Wednesday.
No. There is no automatic transfer, and families must apply separately through the normal local authority process. Nursery attendance gave no priority in the 2026/27 Reception arrangements.
School kitchen meals and healthy packed lunches are options. Lunch is not provided for Wednesday half-day children.
Email nursery@lightwatervillageschool.org to request a tour or make an enquiry.
