Downsview Primary and Nursery School: Nursery Review

Three-hour sessions or a full school day: Downsview’s nursery gives families a choice of attendance patterns within a term-time model. The provision belongs to Downsview Primary and Nursery School on Biggin Way in Upper Norwood. Children enter after turning three. For the January and April 2026 intakes, their third birthday must fall in the preceding term.

The practical distinction is between five morning or afternoon sessions and attendance across the full day. Families can express a session preference, although allocation depends on availability. That makes the attendance pattern an important part of deciding whether the nursery fits family routines.

Morning attendance runs from 8.45am to 11.45am; afternoon attendance is from 12.15pm to 3.15pm. Children taking a full day attend between 8.45am and 3.15pm. The usual half-day arrangement repeats across Monday to Friday, giving children a regular session pattern throughout the week.

Play provides the educational emphasis on the Early Years Education page, which presents it as serious learning for children. In the inspection of 12 and 13 June 2024, Ofsted identified a planned learning sequence starting in early years and continuing through the school. For parents, the relevant point is that this first stage sits within a longer curriculum rather than being treated as a separate prelude to learning.

Lunch gives full-day families a straightforward choice: purchase an optional school meal or send a packed lunch each day. Meal payments are handled separately through Magic booking. Families choosing the full day therefore need to plan both attendance and lunch provision.

For questions about additional needs, the school has a SENDCO contact at senco@downsview.croydon.sch.uk. General enquiries go through the office, which can direct a specific concern to the appropriate senior leadership colleague. These are distinct contact routes for everyday arrangements and questions requiring specialist attention.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. A separate application is required through Croydon’s online admissions route at eadmissions.org. The listed Reception allocation criteria do not give priority for attending the nursery, so families should make that next application independently of their nursery arrangements.

For September 2026 Reception entry, the deadline was 15 January 2026. That application cycle is past. Keep the nursery application and the later Reception application as separate decisions, with their own processes and deadlines.

Funded attendance is term-time only, covering 38 weeks. The universal pattern provides 15 hours through five sessions; the 30-hour option depends on eligibility. Full-day attendance totals 32.5 hours a week, with an additional charge for the hours beyond the eligible 30-hour entitlement. Families using universal funding can also apply to buy extra sessions, subject to space. Ask the school for current charges.

Paid sessions are billed in advance each half-term, and absence through illness or holidays does not trigger a refund. Nursery applications go directly to the school. To arrange a visit, email sec1@downsview.croydon.sch.uk.

Plan travel around the school-street restrictions: during term time, weekday vehicle access to Biggin Way and Marston Way is restricted from 8.00am to 9.30am and from 2.00pm to 4.00pm. Both windows overlap nursery start or finish times.