Windrush Thamesmead Primary School Nursery Review

Weekly Forest School and daily outdoor play give Windrush Thamesmead’s nursery a clear outdoor thread. The school’s own provision welcomes children aged 3 and 4, with up to 25 children per session and a large nursery space. Families can choose part-time or full-time attendance.

Ofsted rated early years provision Outstanding following the inspection on 9 and 10 July 2024, when Windrush operated across the Thamesmead and Charlton sites. That judgement covers early years across the school as it then operated, rather than a separate inspection of this nursery.

Play shapes the learning. Within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), children practise talking, listening, forming friendships and becoming more independent alongside early literacy and maths. Staff observe children’s play and use what they learn to plan activities led by adults, so teaching responds to each child’s next steps.

The practical detail matters: children work on pencil marks and cutting, throw balls and climb, and learn to move around obstacles. Group listening and answering questions sit alongside explaining an experience or asking for help. These are everyday foundations for taking part in a classroom.

Inside and outside activities are available daily. The on-site Forest School is used once a week, while nursery trips include Greenwich Park, the local library and Mudchute Farm. Outdoor learning therefore has a regular place in the week, with visits extending children’s experiences beyond the nursery.

Early reading uses Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised, with phonics beginning in Nursery/Reception. Reading for enjoyment also receives attention. Weekly Jigsaw sessions bring personal, social, health and economic education into nursery learning, including work on emotions, relationships and mindfulness. Learning to manage feelings has its own teaching time.

Settling is a partnership with parents. Staff work with families as children adjust to nursery, and parents are encouraged to leave only once their child is settled, then keep the goodbye brief. The emphasis is on helping children separate from their main carer and gradually do more for themselves.

A curriculum update at the beginning of each term gives families topics to discuss at home. Parent information sessions and activities attended by parents and children offer further ways to take part. Sharing books and talking about the nursery day are encouraged too, connecting classroom experiences with familiar conversations at home.

The nursery team includes a classroom teacher, an early years practitioner, a teaching assistant and SEN support. A school SENCo and a Trust Inclusion Lead provide the wider inclusion structure. This gives families a route for discussing additional needs alongside the nursery team.

Attending this nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Parents must make a separate application through Royal Greenwich admissions and meet the normal application deadline. Treat that application as a separate task from arranging nursery attendance.

Preparation during nursery includes early maths and literacy, alongside learning to listen, share and become more independent. Those skills support the next stage of school; they do not secure admission.

For children attending 15 hours a week, sessions run from 8:30am to 11:30am or from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. The 30-hour pattern runs from 8:30am to 3:30pm, with lunch between 11:30am and 12:30pm. The lunch interval is a distinct part of that longer day.

Eligibility must be checked for a 30-hour place, and families must reconfirm it every three months. Nursery applications go through the school office. Parents can also arrange a visit to see the setting and meet staff by contacting the office at office@windrushthamesmead.org.uk or 0208 310 0157.