Kenmont Primary School Nursery Review

Climbing frames, story-making and Wiggle Waggle movement sessions give Kenmont’s nursery a day built around language, play and physical activity. This is the nursery class within Kenmont Primary School on Valliere Road, with 26 places covering full-time and part-time attendance. Children can begin in the term following their third birthday.

Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good at its January 2023 inspection. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Children have time to choose their own explorations alongside activities guided by adults and short periods of direct teaching. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) approach brings learning and development together: speaking, relationships and independence sit alongside early literacy, number work and physical skills. Themes organise the learning, with room for children’s interests to influence what happens next.

Stories become something children act out and reshape. Actions and story maps help them retell a story before adding ideas of their own; role-play and drama give further reasons to talk. Mark-making has practical purposes, including messages and shopping lists. Early years maths uses Maths Mastery sessions and objects children can handle, connecting number ideas with everyday experiences.

Indoor and outdoor activities are accessible throughout the learning time. Climbing frames, scooters and trikes provide daily opportunities to practise movement, while weekly Wiggle Waggle combines music, dancing and song. The nursery enrichment plan also includes experimenting with clay, paint and collage, singing each day and choosing stories or songs by voting. These are opportunities to make decisions as well as create things.

Learning sequence. In January 2023, learning did not consistently build on children’s earlier experiences, with early years classes a particular concern. Families should weigh the breadth of activities alongside this weakness in how learning connected over time.

Sharing equipment and helping friends are taught as everyday habits. In January 2023, early years staff supported routines skilfully, giving children practical help with considerate behaviour.

Parents discuss progress through teacher meetings, and early years observations and assessments are shared at intervals during the year. Suggested activities for home link back to classroom learning. For children with an identified special educational need, the school’s SEND arrangements include a meeting each term with the teacher and special educational needs coordinator (SENCO), so families can review progress and support together. Specialist input may include speech and language therapy or occupational therapy, depending on need.

The school meal menu includes a halal option on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Physical access. Kenmont’s main building has three storeys and numerous internal steps. Families whose child needs mobility support should consider the school’s accessibility arrangements when planning attendance.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place and is not listed as a priority in Kenmont’s Reception admissions criteria. Families must make a separate application to the council where they live. January is specified for submitting it; Hammersmith and Fulham manages Reception admissions at Kenmont.

The listed priorities cover children in public care, professionally supported exceptional needs, siblings and proximity measured by walking distance. A nursery place therefore needs to be considered separately from the later school application.

For children receiving SEND support, transition arrangements include sharing individual needs, progress and useful support strategies between staff as children change classes. That continuity of information is separate from entitlement to a place.

Morning nursery sessions run from 8.50am to 11.30am; afternoons run from 12.30pm to 3.20pm. The school timetable allows an hour for lunch. Kenmont offers both part-time and full-time nursery places and currently advertises free full-time provision of 30 hours. This makes the attendance pattern an important part of choosing a place.

Nursery children can use breakfast club and book into Aktiva after school club, which runs until 6pm. Both involve charges; contact the school for current charges. These options extend care beyond the nursery sessions.

Enquiries and nursery applications go through the school office at admin@kenmont.lbhf.sch.uk or 020 8969 4497. School visits can also be arranged through the office. Travel. There is no parking on the school site. Kensal Green and Willesden Junction are the nearest Underground stations, giving families alternatives to driving.