Oxford Gardens Primary School Nursery Review

Pixie class gives Oxford Gardens’ youngest children their own identity within The Incredible Years, the school’s early years team. A nursery class teacher, who also acts as early years lead, works alongside a nursery officer. This is school-based nursery provision with a distinct class and staff structure.

The 2023–24 nursery policy covers children from age three until the end of the academic year in which they turn four. The school describes a renovated building housing the early years learning environment.

Shared stories connect the youngest children with older pupils. In March 2023, early years children spent time reading storybooks with Year 6 pupils, giving them contact with children beyond their own class. Behaviour expectations also begin in the early years: children are encouraged to consider how their actions affect other children’s learning.

Ofsted graded early years provision Good at its inspection on 7 and 8 March 2023. However, the early years curriculum needed clearer decisions about the knowledge children should acquire before later learning. Some teaching did not connect sufficiently with the Year 1 curriculum. For parents, the useful distinction is between the early years grade and this specific weakness in how learning was planned to build over time.

Starting nursery can be gradual. The 2023–24 policy allows a staggered intake when this would help a child settle, rather than requiring every child to begin in the same way.

For additional needs, the school’s 2023–24 inclusion offer sets out a route through the class teacher and special educational needs coordinator (SENCO). Children with an identified special educational need have termly meetings involving their family, teacher and SENCO to discuss progress and support. Teaching can be adapted, with specialist advice sought where appropriate. Speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and educational psychology are among the possible forms of specialist help; referrals may need to be prioritised. This gives families a process for discussing support, with provision dependent on the child’s needs.

Food choices are part of the admission form: parents select a school lunch or packed lunch and record allergies or dietary requirements. Medical conditions are recorded too, giving families a way to share care information before their child starts.

A nursery place does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the borough’s admissions process by the deadline for their entry year. The local authority’s guidance for September 2023 entry also made clear that nursery attendance gave no Reception admission priority.

Transition support is a separate matter. Under the 2023–24 nursery policy, staff coordinate with Reception colleagues to prepare children for their next class, including a move to another chosen or allocated school. Reports and agreed records can be passed to the receiving school. That helps the next team understand the child; it does not reserve a place.

The 2023–24 policy offered a full-time pattern described as 30 hours: 8:40am to 3:20pm, with Friday finishing earlier at 12:50pm. The shorter Friday is a practical consideration for collection arrangements. Families accepting a place were expected to retain it for the remainder of that academic year.

Prospective Parent Mornings provide a tour and discussion with The Incredible Years team, covering learning spaces, curriculum and extended provision. Book through the school office. Nursery applications in the 2023–24 policy also went to the office, with evidence of the child’s birth date and home address required. For current charges, contact the school.