Charlton Manor Primary School Nursery

Daily stories and regular library sessions give Charlton Manor’s nursery a clear thread: books are part of children’s everyday experience. This is the nursery within Charlton Manor Primary School on Indus Road in Charlton. Children can start in the term following their third birthday, making the entry point dependent on their birthday rather than simply reaching three.

Story time has a defined place in the day. Teachers spend at least 20 minutes daily reading aloud for enjoyment, with nursery children included. That gives listening to a story its own time, rather than making books only a teaching resource. Fiction, poetry and factual books also feature in the school library, where nursery children have a timetabled session described as bi-weekly. Children can share reading with a friend or enjoy books individually.

At the inspection on 28 February and 1 March 2023, Ofsted found that early-years adults developed children’s spoken communication effectively and encouraged them to notice sounds. Adults also helped children sustain their attention. These findings concern the foundations of learning: listening, expressing ideas and staying involved in an activity.

For a child with additional needs, the school’s SEND arrangements begin with a conversation. Parents can raise learning or wellbeing concerns with the class teacher; the SENCo and Inclusion Team coordinate with families and other professionals over support. This gives parents a route from an initial concern to planning help, rather than requiring them to identify the right intervention themselves.

Preparation before starting is described specifically for children with known SEND. Families are encouraged to visit with their child where possible, and discuss needs with the SENCo or Inclusion Manager. Relevant information is shared with the staff who will support the child, allowing preparations before their first day.

Support follows an assess, plan, do and review cycle. Parents contribute to identifying needs and planning action, and progress towards agreed outcomes is reviewed termly with them. For children with medical needs, more complex arrangements can involve a detailed care plan developed with parents and the school nurse or designated staff member. The emphasis is on agreeing what the individual child needs.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place and is not included among the priority criteria on the school’s admissions page. Families must make a separate application through Greenwich Council’s online Common Application Form. The council decides the allocation, so a nursery place should never be treated as a reservation for the next stage.

Transition support is a separate matter. For children with SEND moving between classes, teachers exchange records and strategies towards the school year’s end. An additional meeting involves the SENCo or Inclusion Manager where a child has an EHC Plan or statement. That transfers support information; it does not alter admission rights.

Nursery applications go to the school office using the Application/Admissions Form, accompanied by a birth certificate and address evidence. Applications can be submitted after a child turns two, although attendance begins only in the term after turning three.

For enquiries, contact the office at admin@charltonmanor.greenwich.sch.uk or on 020 8856 6525. Keep the nursery application and the later council application as separate tasks when planning your child’s start.