Berger Primary School Nursery Review

Boats made from recycled materials, bicycle discussions and stories give Nursery Oak a practical, conversational character. This is Berger Primary School’s nursery provision on Anderson Road in Hackney, with provision for two-year-olds as part of the school. Its own class updates show children exploring ideas through making and talking, rather than treating a topic as something simply to listen to.

A story can become an investigation here. In January 2025, Nursery Oak used Who Sank the Boat to explore whether objects float or sink, then made boats using recycled materials. Children also discussed bicycles, drawing on their own experiences during a transport topic. These examples connect books with physical experimentation and give children something concrete to discuss.

Themes extend beyond transport. November 2024 updates describe creative work and number activities linked to sea creatures. A September 2024 theme focused on themselves. That gives parents a useful picture of topic-based learning: familiar experiences and imaginative subjects provide starting points for different activities.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum brings together early language, creative work and exploration. Ofsted’s March 2025 inspection described early-years learning that supported children’s development, including the provision for two-year-olds. Sound-based activities, Holi celebrations and practical exploration were part of that picture. Outdoor learning spaces also contributed to children’s language and thinking, giving learning a physical dimension beyond classroom tasks.

Languages have a named place in early years. Weekly Turkish lessons sit alongside stories read by parent volunteers in their home languages, while routines such as the register use different languages. Older children visit as Language Buddies to encourage younger children’s language skills. For families who use more than one language, this makes home languages part of school activity too.

Berger’s SEND approach aims to identify additional needs early and adapt teaching challenges to individual children. It also gives parents a role in supporting their child’s education and includes children’s own views in planning. This is a school-wide approach, relevant to conversations about support when a child joins the nursery.

The school’s parent resources include Hackney SENDIAGS and the Hackney Ark Resource Centre. These provide named starting points for families seeking support beyond the classroom. For food, Berger’s school menu specifies that everything served is Halal, a practical consideration for families whose dietary requirements include this.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process; Berger identifies Hackney Education as managing admissions. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as two separate decisions.

Nursery applications are returned by email to admin@berger.hackney.sch.uk. The school offers Wednesday tours, with enquiries handled by email or telephone. A tour gives families an opportunity to discuss joining the provision directly with the school.

The 2026/27 calendar includes Nursery within the school term dates. Autumn half term runs from 26 to 30 October 2026, and the autumn term ends on 18 December 2026. These dates matter when arranging childcare around school holidays. School uniform can be ordered through ParentPay.