St Alfege with St Peter's Nursery Review

One child starts at a time at St Alfege with St Peter's nursery. That deliberate introduction gives each newcomer space to get to know the adults and surroundings before the next child joins. It sets a practical tone for this school nursery in Greenwich, catering for three and four year olds during term time.

Capacity is 26 children at any one time, with a qualified teacher and an Early Years Practitioner working together. The admission arrangements cap provision at the equivalent of 52 part-time places; that is different from having 52 children together. Ofsted's May 2026 judgement for early years was Expected standard, covering the school's early years provision rather than a separate nursery inspection.

Stories, pretend play and early mathematics connect here. In May 2026, nursery children developed language and mathematical understanding through storytelling and role play. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings these early learning experiences together with independence and social development: children practise sharing, taking turns and listening alongside activities that develop hand control and early writing. Learning to manage play with others is part of the curriculum.

Little Wandle Foundations begins in nursery from the January term. Children explore rhyme, syllables and the sounds in words, while daily stories and rhymes give language a regular place in their day. This provides practice in hearing how words work before more formal reading instruction.

The outdoor learning area adds another dimension. In May 2026, children in early years gained confidence and stamina through exploration and social play there. Language teaching still needs attention, however: adult conversations did not consistently extend children's vocabulary sufficiently. For parents, the useful question is how adults build on a child's words during ordinary play, alongside the planned language activities.

Settling begins with a compulsory home visit, allowing the nursery team to meet a child somewhere familiar and prepare for their start. Full-time entrants normally build up from a morning to staying for lunch, then a complete day. These stages can change to suit the child. Part-time entrants begin with their whole three-hour session.

A review after six weeks gives parents a specific opportunity to discuss how settling has gone. In May 2026, early years staff recognised additional needs promptly and adjusted activities to individual children. That matters because support can be incorporated into the child's learning rather than relying on the child to fit an unchanged activity.

Families can discuss concerns with the SENDCo, and the school's support arrangements allow changes to settling where needed. Where additional nursery hours are charged, the charge includes a midday meal. Lunch therefore also forms part of the staged introduction for full-time children.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place or confer priority under the 2026-27 admission arrangements. Families must apply separately through the online Common Application Form, naming the school as a preference, and meet the normal application deadline. Nursery attendance should never substitute for that application. A sibling attending only the nursery does not qualify a younger applicant for sibling priority either.

Transition support is a separate matter. For children with SEND moving between classes, the school plans to pass information and targets to the next teacher. Where helpful, a social story or transition book can use photographs of the new classroom and explain changed routines. Familiarity supports preparation; it does not decide admission.

Three attendance patterns are offered: mornings from 8.50am to 11.50am, afternoons from 12.20pm to 3.20pm, or full-time attendance from 8.50am to 3.20pm. Term-time operation means families need to plan holiday care separately.

The 2026-27 arrangements describe 15 funded hours each week, with additional funded hours for families qualifying for the 30-hour entitlement. When registering interest, specify full-time or part-time attendance and whether you have a 30-hour code. Contact the school for current charges.

Send the nursery interest form to admissions@stalfegeschool.org.uk or deliver it to school. The same email accepts requests to visit the nursery in operation. Drop-off and collection use the EYFS gate on Clavell Road; tell the class teacher or office in advance if another adult will collect your child.