Mulgrave Primary School Nursery

Minibeast hunts and a Forest School beside a lake give Mulgrave’s nursery a distinctive outdoor focus. This is the school’s own provision in Woolwich, with places for two-year-olds as well as nursery enquiries for older children. Play, language and growing independence shape its approach. Families can take part through stay-and-play sessions and workshops, so the relationship with home extends beyond exchanging messages.

Both part-time and full-time places are offered. That gives families a choice of attendance model within a nursery that combines indoor learning with regular outdoor exploration.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework for learning. In parent terms, this brings talking, movement and relationships together with early reading, maths, creative expression and discovering how the world works. Children pursue their own interests, while adults guide learning too. The balance gives exploration a place alongside planned teaching.

Storytelling, music and movement feature in nursery learning, together with early maths and opportunities to explore. Daily routines also give children practice in becoming more independent and learning alongside others. In May 2023, Ofsted described nursery children enjoying selected stories, songs and rhymes as the beginnings of an interest in reading. Books and spoken language have a practical role here, before formal reading becomes the focus.

Mulgrave Forest School adds a different kind of learning space. Trees, rocks and logs provide material for discovery, and nursery children search for minibeasts. The grounds overlook a lake; activities include digging, building and observing seasonal changes. Children have regular access, with sessions adapted for their age group. An Early Years practitioner has completed Forest School training, giving this part of the nursery day a specific staffing foundation.

Settling includes sessions and conversations with families. Daily updates, workshops and stay-and-play opportunities then keep parents involved. These are useful ways to share a child’s interests and experiences between home and nursery, rather than leaving communication until a formal meeting.

For children with additional needs, the school’s Inclusion Team works with families and staff, starting support when a need is identified rather than waiting for a diagnosis. Its assess, plan, do and review cycle allows support to be reconsidered as a child develops. Parents should raise developmental or learning concerns with their child’s class teacher first.

School catering is provided by Chartwells, with hot meals and a deli menu. Vegetarian and Halal choices are offered daily. For diagnosed allergies, bespoke menus require families to supply medical documentation before the catering team plans the menu with them.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process by the applicable deadline. Mulgrave directs Reception applications to the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s online primary-school application portal. Choosing nursery and applying for Reception are separate decisions; an existing nursery place should never be treated as an allocation for the following stage.

Eligible two-year-olds can access funded nursery places under government criteria. The school office handles nursery funding and session enquiries, plus enquiries about wraparound care for children aged three and above. Contact office@mulgrave.greenwich.sch.uk or 020 8317 9211.

Welcome Wednesday school tours take place at 10am each week, with no booking required. Families can also arrange to speak with the SENCO or Inclusion Team during a visit. This gives parents a direct opportunity to discuss support alongside seeing the school setting.