Princess May Primary School Nursery

A merged early years setting gives Princess May’s nursery its defining character: younger children share a teaching setting with the school’s Reception class, rather than occupying a separate nursery department. Caterpillar Class is the nursery provision at Princess May Primary School on Princess May Road, London. Children can join from their third birthday, with entry throughout the year.

The emphasis is on learning through play, conversation and exploration. Adult-planned activities sit alongside children’s own choices, giving the day both direction and room for individual interests. Ofsted rated the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 25 and 26 April 2023. That judgement covers early years across the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Stories, growing plants and practical number work give the curriculum a concrete shape. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the framework for this learning: here, it brings together communication, physical development, relationships and early understanding of numbers and words. The school uses its own early years curriculum, with Development Matters informing its planning.

Across the nursery year, themes include People Who Help Us, In the Garden and London. Going on a Bear Hunt and The Little Red Hen are among the core stories. Children discuss books, develop their own storytelling and practise listening to other people’s ideas. This makes language part of everyday learning, rather than a separate exercise.

Practical exploration takes place indoors and outside. Seeds are planted and tended, while digital microscopes help children examine natural objects. Climbing apparatus, scissors and paint brushes feature in physical development, combining larger movements with hand control. Counting uses objects and fingers; repeating patterns and a role-play shop make mathematical ideas tangible.

Language support has named programmes behind it. EYFS uses Launch Pad for Language from Hackney Education alongside Nuffield Early Language intervention. Weekly vocabulary work involves a therapist specialising in speech and language. In April 2023, early years teaching supported children’s concentration and developed their fine motor control, helping them build skills for later learning.

Emotions and friendships are part of the nursery curriculum. Adults help children recognise and manage feelings, while activities are adjusted to children’s needs and interests. The nursery overview includes learning to separate confidently from a main carer, manage personal needs and negotiate with other children. These are learning goals, with growing independence woven into the day.

Support also connects to the wider school team. An in-house speech and language therapist works at the school for one and a half days each week, and specialist teaching support can include individual plans and timetables where needed. Makaton combines speech, symbols and signs to support communication across the school. For families, these provide specific routes into language and learning support.

Meals are prepared in the school kitchen by Olive Dining. The school also has a packed-lunch policy. Families considering a full day should distinguish the nursery’s arrangements from the school meal scheme described for older children.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Parents must make a separate application through Hackney Education, using its online admissions route and an email address to register. Treat that application as a separate step, even when a child already attends Caterpillar Class.

The merged early years teaching setting means nursery children already share a setting with Reception. That is a feature of their daily experience, not an admissions entitlement.

Part-time nursery runs from 8:45am to 11:55am. For full-time attendance, families are asked to apply for a 30-hour funded childcare code; approval allows attendance from 8:45am to 3:25pm each day. The shorter morning and the full day therefore have different funding conditions.

After-school club accepts nursery children every day. Children go to the hall under supervision, with collection in the playground at 4:45pm or 5:45pm for the extended club. This gives families a later collection option beyond the nursery session.

Tours start at 9:30am on Fridays and are arranged through the office on 020 7254 1589. Nursery applications can be made online once a child reaches two and a half. For application help, contact admin@princessmay.hackney.sch.uk.