Ealdham Primary School Nursery Review

Two large nursery rooms and a dedicated outdoor space give Ealdham’s youngest children room to choose, explore and play. This is the school’s nursery for three and four-year-olds, on the ground floor beside the Reception classrooms in Ealdham Square, Eltham. Children begin in the term after turning three.

Morning and afternoon places suit families seeking a shorter day; a full-day place is offered to families eligible for 30-hour funding. Ofsted’s April 2026 inspection graded the school’s early years provision at Expected standard. That judgement covers early years across the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Choice shapes the day. Children select their own materials in a workshop-style layout, with adult-guided activities alongside play they initiate themselves. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) approach here combines learning to communicate, beginning to read and write, and developing confidence with other people. Adults build activities around children’s interests and help them explain their thinking through questions and conversation.

Outdoor learning happens daily, whatever the weather. Inside, a book corner, creative play areas and an interactive whiteboard sit alongside other activity spaces. Stories, maths and phonics bring children together at points during the day, giving a shared rhythm to sessions that also allow independent choices.

Little Wandle Foundations prepares nursery children to learn letter-sound correspondences and blend sounds in Reception. Books also travel home with a reading diary from Nursery onwards, making shared reading part of the link between home and class. A Special Folder captures learning children initiate, while an Adult Focus Work Book records guided tasks. Together, these give staff two different views of a child’s progress.

The report published in April 2026 describes early years children developing balance, movement and hand control alongside early reading skills. Pretend cooking gave them practice in listening, taking turns and choosing healthy options. Conversation extended learning most successfully where adults introduced vocabulary thoughtfully: the strongest interaction was a feature of some practice, rather than a uniform strength.

Settling starts before the first session. Nursery practitioners arrange a home visit to discuss routines and the settling period, and families are invited to visit the nursery together beforehand. Familiarity has a practical purpose: children can begin recognising the space, while adults learn about their needs.

ClassDojo carries photographs, updates and moments from learning, alongside conversations with staff at the classroom door. Families can contribute experiences from home for children to discuss in class. The April 2026 early years findings describe children as confident and happy, with trusting relationships; staff recognised developing needs promptly and worked with families and other professionals to arrange early help.

For children with identified special needs, settling can be adjusted. A Team Around the Child meeting brings involved professionals and the family together before the child starts. Families can contact the school’s Inclusion Team by telephone or arrange an appointment at school.

Some nursery children receiving additional hours remain for lunch, served at 11.50am. Catering staff cook meals on site. Lunch entitlement. Nursery children are excluded from the school’s automatic free-meal offer. Families should plan for this distinction and obtain current charges from the school.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Parents must make a separate application through the Royal Borough of Greenwich Admissions Service using the normal application process. Treat that application as a separate task, even when your child already attends Ealdham.

Classroom familiarity is useful preparation, rather than an admissions advantage. Nursery children moving into Ealdham’s Reception have opportunities to visit the classroom before the change. The neighbouring ground-floor classrooms make that next setting a familiar part of the school.

The morning session runs from 8.55am to 11.55am; the afternoon runs from 12.10pm to 3.10pm. Full-day places are conditional on eligibility for 30-hour funding. Nursery applications go directly to the school office, and admission depends on a place being available.

Contact the office on 020 88505484 or sao@ealdham.greenwich.sch.uk for enquiries. Families can arrange a school visit before or after applying. The school’s uniform includes grey trousers or skirts, a white shirt or polo shirt and black footwear; items without the logo can be bought from other suppliers.