Morningside Primary School Nursery Review

Marble runs, water wheels and wind-up toys give Morningside’s nursery a practical character: children explore what happens when they build, turn and move things. These are learning materials with a purpose. They introduce cause and effect through play, giving young children something concrete to investigate.

At Morningside Primary School on Chatham Place, the provision includes two- and three-year-olds, with Rainbow Nursery named for the younger children. The Nursery class has an annual intake of 42 children. That figure describes yearly admissions rather than the number attending a particular session.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) takes shape through talking, stories, physical exploration and early mathematical ideas. Indoor and outdoor learning environments form part of the early-years provision, alongside the school’s OPaL (Outdoor Play and Learning) approach. Play has a named place in the school’s approach to learning.

Mechanical exploration is especially specific. Rotating nursery materials include cogs, pulleys and construction pieces, as well as puzzles and marble runs. Children have time to investigate how these work, practising reasoning and working out sequences through objects they can handle. Early computing here includes thinking through a problem away from a screen.

Books provide another strand. Children discuss stories and act them out, linking vocabulary to actions and ideas. Read Write Inc is the named programme for nursery phonics and early reading. The EYFS Talk Tips add simple conversational habits: listening to a partner, speaking clearly and waiting for a turn. These make participation something children can practise.

At the September 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that adults used water-pouring activities to develop nursery children’s mathematical vocabulary. Comparing quantities and talking about containers brought early maths into practical play. Songs and action rhymes also featured in early years, while singing teaching began in Nursery.

Before children start, the school uses either a home visit or a meeting on site to discuss their needs with families. That gives parents a chance to explain what support their child requires before the first session.

For children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the school’s support arrangements involve the class teacher and SEND coordinator. Plans are reviewed in October, February and May, with parents contributing to decisions. Children under five with an education, health and care plan have reviews every six months. This gives families scheduled opportunities to revisit support as needs change.

Speech and Language Therapy is among the school’s specialist services. Its July 2025 SEND information report also identifies a lift and low-level building access, practical features relevant to families with physical access needs.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal school admissions process, which Morningside directs to Hackney Learning Trust; the online route is Pan London E-Admissions. Treat that application as a separate task from choosing nursery sessions.

Full-time nursery spaces are offered to eligible children, with the remaining spaces divided between morning and afternoon attendance. The admissions information directs families seeking 30 funded hours for three- and four-year-olds to Childcare Choices to check eligibility and apply. For eligible two-year-olds, it identifies a 15-hour funding route through the Learning Trust.

Nursery applications go directly to the school. Contact the office on 020 8985 5382 or email admin@morningside.hackney.sch.uk. School tours can be booked online or arranged by telephone, giving families a direct way to explore the setting before applying.