Plumcroft Primary School Nursery Review

A Tube Train in the nursery playground gives Plumcroft’s early years provision a distinctive physical feature. At Plum Lane, the nursery sits within the Nithdale Building, alongside the school’s younger classes. Nursery provision also has teaching staff at Vincent Road, giving families two campus application routes.

Children can join from age three. Plumcroft offers 70 nursery places each day across part-time and full-time provision, with morning and afternoon options as well as a full-time place. That choice matters for families fitting early education around their childcare needs.

Stories give the nursery curriculum a recognisable shape. Talk for Writing has been used across the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) since September 2023. Here, that early learning includes practising spoken language, developing story ideas and preparing for reading and writing. Children revisit a focus story over three to four weeks, giving them time to become familiar with its language before developing their own ideas.

The nursery selection includes The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Brown Bear, Brown Bear and Stuck in the Mud. Talk for Writing moves through imitation, innovation and independent application: children practise the language of a story, explore changes and then use what they have learned themselves. Daily phonics uses Read, Write Inc, adding a regular focus on the sounds used in reading.

In June 2023, Ofsted found that early years learning held children’s attention and that they persisted with activities; nursery children illustrated this by adding landmarks to maps following a park walk. Language and communication were a specific early years teaching focus. The mapping example connects an outdoor experience with representing and discussing what children noticed, rather than treating the walk as a separate outing.

Early identification of additional needs is a concrete part of the nursery’s support arrangements. Every nursery child is screened by a private Educational Psychologist for emerging needs that warrant further investigation. Where concerns arise, the class teacher and Phase SENDCO involve parents in investigating needs and planning support.

Children on the SEND register have individual learning plans developed with relevant professionals, updated through the year and shared with parents. Families can raise concerns with the class teacher or contact the SENDCO at sendco@plumcroft.greenwich.sch.uk. This gives parents a direct route into discussions about their child’s learning.

ReachMoreParents handles school communications, including direct messages, updates, forms and meal ordering. School meals are available to nursery children, but the school’s general free-meal offer excludes Nursery. For eligible families taking a full-time place through 30 hours funded childcare, meals carry a daily charge; the paid full-time option for families outside that entitlement includes meals.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s central admissions process, using the Common Application Form at www.eadmissions.org.uk. Apply by the normal Reception deadline even if your child already attends Plumcroft’s nursery. Familiarity with the school does not replace that application.

Morning, afternoon and full-time places are offered through the nursery application process. Families eligible for 30 hours funded childcare can apply for a full-time place. Contact the school for current charges associated with meals or a paid full-time place.

Nursery visits can be arranged by calling the office for an appointment. General enquiries go to office@plumcroft.greenwich.sch.uk, and the contact page also provides an enquiry form. Uniform includes a logo cardigan or sweatshirt, a light blue or white polo shirt, and grey trousers or skirts, with trainers or black shoes. Uniform can be purchased through the school app.