Grasmere Primary School Nursery Review

Weekly Forest School and a class Floorbook give Grasmere’s nursery two distinctive threads: exploring outside and returning to shared experiences through photographs, observations and children’s work. This is the school’s own provision for children aged three to four, at 92 Albion Road in Hackney. Its character is built around play, conversation and growing independence.

Ofsted’s April 2026 inspection judged the school’s early years provision to be a Strong standard. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery. Language is a clear strength: adults introduce vocabulary and use questions to help children develop their ideas.

Play shapes both parts of the day. Morning learning runs from 09:00 to 12:00, with lunch between 12:00 and 13:00; afternoon learning continues until 15:30. Children have access to an outdoor play area during both learning periods, so outdoor exploration belongs within the daily routine as well as the weekly Forest School sessions.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines learning about the world, early literacy and maths with communication, physical development, creativity and social confidence. At Grasmere, children choose some activities themselves and join others guided by adults. Staff observe their interests and development, then use those observations to plan experiences suited to them. That gives play a learning purpose while retaining room for children’s own ideas.

Books connect language with discovery. The report published in April 2026 describes nursery children exploring vocabulary associated with how insects, animals and people grow and change. Stories provided connections to their other learning. Listening activities also ask children to distinguish and imitate sounds, using music, conversation and books to prepare for reading.

Early writing starts with movement, posture and holding a pencil. The shared Floorbook records learning across the EYFS, and children revisit it with staff to talk about experiences they remember. Individual development is tracked through Insights, with Nursery assessment using Development Matters Goals. Together, these give staff both a record of shared learning and a view of each child’s progress.

Families offered a place are invited to discuss their child’s needs with the school. This gives families an opportunity to explain their child’s support requirements. Lunch has its own hour in the nursery timetable, rather than being folded into the play periods.

For additional needs, the school’s Inclusion Team works with families and teaching staff, with Speech and Language Therapists or Educational Psychologists involved according to need. Parents can raise concerns with the class teacher or Inclusion Team and meet staff to plan support. The April 2026 early years findings describe progress in reading, writing and maths for children with SEND, alongside prompt attention to difficulties with phonics and forming letters and numbers.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through Hackney Education’s Admissions and Transfers route, following its normal application timetable. The nursery application goes directly to Grasmere; the two processes are separate.

Transition preparation is a different matter. The school arranges a summer session with the next class teacher and support staff, and staff exchange information about children’s needs. Extra visits can be arranged for children needing more time to become familiar with a new class. These practices support the change of setting; they do not secure admission.

Nursery enquiries go to info@grasmere.hackney.sch.uk. Applications are returned to the school office, which also checks original evidence of birth and address. Families eligible for the 30-hour childcare entitlement are directed to the government application route. Working families may also qualify to use Tax-Free Childcare towards nursery fees.

Early Years tours can be booked online. Each booking covers one adult, so two carers attending together need separate bookings; tours have a limit of 15 adults. Booking does not generate a confirmation email, a useful detail when planning a visit.