Greenside Primary School Nursery

Twenty-five nursery places within a one-form-entry primary give Greenside’s youngest children a place in a small school community. Based on Westville Road in Shepherds Bush, the nursery offers funded entry from the term following a child’s third birthday. Its morning pattern provides a regular start to school life, with afternoon attendance also possible.

Greenside’s guiding words are Inspire, Nurture and Challenge. The school aims to combine ambition with care, giving families a clear sense of the values surrounding the nursery rather than treating early education as childcare alone.

The morning runs from 8:50am until 11:50am, Monday to Friday. That creates a consistent three-hour session across the week. Children eligible for the longer funded offer can also attend in the afternoon; paid additional hours provide another route to full-time attendance.

Food, film and fun shape the school’s approach to learning. Its Green Curriculum connects education with sustainability, outdoor exploration and food growing. A school garden supplies vegetables to the kitchen, making the connection between growing and eating tangible. These are features of the wider school’s approach, rather than a timetable of nursery activities.

Early learning needs breadth as well as an introduction to reading. At the October 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that children were learning phonics successfully in the early years. It also identified weaknesses in curriculum planning and staff expertise across some early learning areas. Children did not consistently secure learning across all areas, and staff needed further training and support to develop skills inside and outside. For parents, the balance matters: an encouraging start with sounds sat alongside concerns about the breadth and consistency of early learning.

ClassDojo connects nursery families with classroom life. Photographs and regular updates appear through Class Story and School Story, while messaging covers reminders, changes to routines and general communication. Sensitive concerns need another channel, and absence should be reported through the usual absence procedure.

For children staying for lunch, the school serves vegetarian food in the Greenside lunchroom. There are two hot choices, accompanied by bread, salad and pudding. Packed lunches are not permitted. Nuts are excluded, including peanut products, so families need to follow the food restrictions when bringing anything into school.

Additional needs can be discussed with the class teacher or SENDCo. The school’s support process cycles through assessing needs, planning help, putting it into practice and reviewing progress. Parents of children receiving SEN support meet the teacher termly to review the plan. Adaptations can include visual timetables, movement breaks and small-group or individual support where appropriate, helping provision respond to the child rather than relying on one fixed method.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route; Greenside directs applications through Hammersmith and Fulham’s eAdmission route. Treat choosing nursery and applying for Reception as separate decisions.

For pupils with SEND, preparation for a new school year includes lessons with the incoming teacher near the end of summer term and discussions between staff about needs and provision. That supports continuity of care; it does not secure admission.

Nursery enquiries and applications go directly to the school office, reached on 020 8743 6421 or admin@greensideschool.org. School tours can be booked, with alternative dates arranged through the office.

The morning offer covers 15 funded hours. Afternoon attendance under the 30-hour offer requires eligibility and a 30-hour code. Families who do not qualify can pay for an additional 15 hours to attend full-time. Contact the school for current charges.