Shacklewell Primary School Nursery Review

Picture books, colour mixing and water-tray investigations give Shacklewell’s nursery its character: learning starts with things children can handle, explore and talk about. The school’s pre-school provision covers ages two to four, with a two-year-old team and a nursery team working within the primary school on Shacklewell Row.

Children can apply to the nursery at three. Across the pre-school provision, activities combine children’s own choices with learning led by adults, using both indoor and outdoor spaces. That gives families a school-based early years option where practical exploration forms part of the learning.

Books provide the starting point for nursery topics. Picture books sit alongside factual texts, and children hear a story daily. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) learning described here connects early language, practical discovery and preparation for writing. Mathematics Mastery principles also inform nursery maths, with an emphasis on talking through mathematical ideas.

The activities make those foundations tangible. In May 2024, nursery children explored the Colour theme by making zigzag monsters, mixing colours with their fingers inside zippy wallets and painting bread with coloured milk for rainbow toast. Shapes and patterns gave them practice in making marks before writing. A March 2024 Amazon topic used painting to represent the river, while the water tray let children investigate its flow and obstacles. These are concrete ways to connect a topic with materials and observation.

Outdoor learning is part of the two-year-old provision’s approach to thinking and solving problems. Friday is the listed PE day for nursery and two-year-olds. At the April 2025 inspection, Ofsted identified a clear early years emphasis on communication and language, alongside routines that teach children to face a partner and alternate speaking and listening. Conversation is a learning activity here.

Families have taken part in nursery learning through Come Learn With Me. During the January 2024 Winter session, children and their families explored changes in ice, made model igloos and created a polar small world with cornflour. This gave parents a practical view of the activities their children were doing.

For additional needs, the school uses regular monitoring and discussions involving the class teacher, parents and the special educational needs coordinator to decide on support. Available specialist services include speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and educational psychology. Parents contribute to targets and receive progress updates, giving them a role in planning support.

School meals are cooked on site with fresh ingredients, and vegetarian choices are available. The school also permits healthy packed lunches, with nuts and sesame excluded. These food rules matter when planning lunch for a child attending across mealtimes.

A separate application. Attending Shacklewell’s nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply again through the normal Reception admissions process, governed by Hackney’s procedures, and meet the applicable deadline. Treat choosing nursery and applying for Reception as separate decisions.

The two-year-old provision offers part-time and full-time places, with an additional charge for full-time provision, plus wraparound care between 8am and 6pm. Nursery families have separate morning arrangements allowing attendance from 8.30am. These age-specific arrangements matter when matching childcare to work hours.

For funded childcare, the school works with interested two-year-old families to check eligibility; nursery applicants are directed to Hackney Education’s eligibility check. Tours run on Thursdays at 3.45pm and can be booked by emailing swoffice@newwavefederation.co.uk. Shacklewell Row is a School Street, with driving restrictions from 8.30am to 9.30am and 3pm to 4pm unless an exemption applies. Plan the journey around those restrictions.