Henwick Primary School Nursery Review

Stories, poems and rhymes give Henwick’s nursery a clear starting point: learning to listen and becoming familiar with language. This is nursery provision within Henwick Primary School on Henwick Road in Eltham, rather than a separate childcare setting. Its day belongs within the school’s early years foundation stage (EYFS).

Ofsted graded the early years provision Good at the inspection on 17 and 18 April 2024. That judgement covers the early years phase within the school.

Language learning starts with shared listening. Nursery children hear poetry, stories and rhymes, giving them experience of words through different forms of reading aloud. In April 2024, early years activities included deliberately chosen vocabulary for later learning. Listening and conversation have a practical purpose here.

A visual timetable helps explain the day. Across EYFS, staff discuss the displayed sequence with children and explain alterations to routines, helping them understand what happens next. Conversations about family events, birthdays and seasonal changes introduce the difference between past and present through experiences children recognise.

Superhero role play provides another concrete example of the EYFS approach. In a computing activity, children directed a blindfolded partner around Metropolis using instructions about moving forwards and turning. This introduces sequencing through spoken directions and movement, away from a screen. These early years examples show learning through familiar routines, language and play.

In April 2024, early years children paid attention to adults, with staff helping them sustain concentration and share turns. Those are useful foundations for joining group activities and learning alongside other children.

Support for additional needs follows the school’s assess, plan, do, review approach: understand the difficulty, arrange support, put it into practice and check its effect. The Inclusion Team includes a SENCo, an assistant SENCo, a lead for nurture and behaviour, and a community liaison role. Speech and Language Therapy and Educational Psychology are among its external partners.

Parents with concerns can begin with the class teacher. The SEND information report provides for termly meetings with families, giving parents opportunities to discuss progress and adjustments.

Physical access. The school’s SEND policy describes a Victorian building with several floors, portable ramps for some areas, and no lift or ramps above ground level. Families with mobility needs should take those building constraints into account.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must submit a separate application through their home local authority; Greenwich residents apply through Royal Borough of Greenwich, with eAdmissions the suggested online route.

For September 2026 entry, the application deadline was 15 January 2026. That cycle is past.

Transition support is a separate matter. The school’s SEND arrangements include meeting new adults and visiting classrooms where needed. Additional preparation can involve photographs, social stories or extra visits, according to the child’s needs. Familiarity supports the change of class; it does not settle admission.

Nursery enquiries go through the school office at schooloffice@henwick.greenwich.sch.uk or 020 8856 8627. The office also provides paper copies of website information on request. This gives families a direct contact for their enquiry and an alternative way to receive school documents.