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Nursery at St Mark's Church of England Primary School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Forest School, music and early language learning give Cedar Class its character. This is St Mark's own nursery for children aged three and four, with capacity for up to 30 children, within the Church of England primary school on Harleyford Road in Kennington. Children can join shortly after turning three.
The nursery unit opened in September 2017. Its curriculum starts with children's interests and individual needs, bringing creativity and communication alongside the beginnings of literacy and mathematics. For families, the emphasis is on learning through exploration while becoming familiar with school life.
Play and focused activities led by teachers sit alongside each other. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) approach here combines children's interests with work on relationships, communication, reading, writing and number. Languages and music also feature. That gives the day several ways into learning, rather than making early literacy the only focus.
Little Wandle is the named phonics programme used from Nursery onwards. Sound work has a clear place alongside books and play. Art brings more practical exploration: the early-years skills plan includes mixing paint colours, making simple collages and experimenting with construction materials. These activities give children ways to express ideas through making as well as talking.
Learning uses indoor and outdoor environments. A qualified Forest School instructor leads outdoor learning, and early-years children have opportunities to grow vegetables and fruit, investigate living things in the wildlife garden and take part in fire-making activities. These are concrete experiences of plants, materials and change. Urban Canopy gardeners also work with school classes fortnightly, extending the school's outdoor emphasis.
In November 2024, Ofsted found that early-years activities responded to individual children's needs, supporting both learning and personal development. Vocabulary development begins in early years, while stories and books introduce children to reading from this stage.
For children with identified special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), starting arrangements include meeting the key person and discussing support with staff. The 2025-26 SEND report describes home and previous-setting visits as automatic for nursery entrants within this SEND starting procedure. Where other professionals are involved, a Team Around the Child meeting brings their advice together before the child starts.
Settling arrangements can be adjusted through agreement with parents at that meeting. An early review with the class teacher follows settling, with further parent reviews at least termly. This gives families opportunities to assess how support is working after the initial start.
Class teachers are the first contact for concerns; the SENCO coordinates additional support and specialist involvement. Speech and Language Therapy and Educational Psychology are among the services involved. Parents can therefore discuss both classroom adjustments and referrals through the school team.
Early Years Stay & Play sessions took place in January and March 2026, giving parents opportunities to share children's play and learning.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the local-authority process and complete the school's supplementary form. The admissions page gives 15 January 2027 as the deadline for the 2026-27 application cycle.
Proposed nursery priority. The proposed 2026-27 policy places nursery children fourth among its Open Place oversubscription criteria. That wording belongs to a proposal, so it should not be treated as an established admission entitlement or automatic transfer.
Transition support is separate from allocation. For children with SEND moving between classes, parents meet the new teacher, staff share support plans in advance, and a book or social story can help explain the change where useful.
For the 2026-27 academic year, the nursery advertises free full-time places. Full-time allocation takes account of children's and families' needs. Applications use the nursery application form, and visits can be arranged by telephone.
Call 020 7735 1467 or email admin@st-markscofe.lambeth.sch.uk. The tour request form includes Nursery and offers Friday visits at 9.30am, with space to request another date or time. The school is on Harleyford Road, Kennington, London, SE11 5SL.
The nursery serves three- and four-year-olds. Children can be admitted soon after their third birthday.
Yes. Free full-time nursery places are advertised for 2026-27, with allocation based on the needs of children and families.
Early-years children have opportunities for growing fruit and vegetables, investigating living things in the wildlife garden and fire-making activities with a qualified Forest School instructor.
No. Reception requires a separate application. A proposed 2026-27 policy includes nursery attendance as its fourth Open Place criterion, but that proposal does not establish a guaranteed place.
Telephone 020 7735 1467 or email admin@st-markscofe.lambeth.sch.uk. Nursery can also be selected on the school tour request form.
