Telferscot Primary School Nursery Review

Bug hunts on Tooting Common and books made in class give Telferscot’s nursery its character: learning through play, with practical experiences beyond the classroom. This is the school’s own nursery class in Balham, welcoming children from the term following their third birthday. Families can combine whole days with morning and afternoon sessions in an agreed pattern.

Early years provision received an Outstanding judgement at Ofsted’s inspection on 11 and 12 February 2025. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision. It is not a separate nursery rating. A nursery class teacher works within an EYFS structure that includes a phase leader and early years teaching assistants.

Children can move between indoor and outdoor activities, choosing resources as they play. Their interests help shape learning alongside school topics. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together language, physical and social development with early reading, number, creativity and understanding the world. Adult teaching, including maths and book making, sits alongside activities children explore for themselves. There is room for both guidance and choice.

Early reading starts with listening. Nursery children investigate sounds from instruments and their surroundings, then explore rhyme, rhythm and words with matching initial sounds. Later comes oral blending and segmenting: joining spoken sounds and taking them apart. Singing and stories are daily early years activities, giving children repeated opportunities to hear and use language.

Forest School adds a substantial outdoor strand. Nursery groups of 15 have a weekly hour-long session, using the school’s forest area, outdoor classroom and Tooting Common. Activities include searching for bugs, making art from collected objects and building dens. Tool use begins only when children are developmentally ready, with safety explanations and demonstrations before activities. Waterproofs, warm clothes and wellies stay at school so children can take part across changing weather.

Creative and practical work extends indoors too. Early years classes have weekly art sessions; computing involves taking photographs and recording sound or video, with six iPads per class and access to laptops. The nursery history topic brings grandparents in to discuss their childhoods and explores changing work uniforms. These are concrete ways to connect learning with people and experiences children recognise.

In February 2025, early years children became familiar with routines promptly and formed positive friendships. Before starting, all children have an admissions meeting, giving parents an opportunity to explain additional needs. The nursery application also asks about medical and dietary requirements, helping families flag care needs from the outset.

For children needing extra help, the class teacher and SENDCo coordinate support. Individual Learning Plans are reviewed with parents three times a year. Practical activities, visual aids and extra processing time are among the school’s adaptations. Its facilities include a specialist toilet area for children requiring equipment; adjustments depend on individual needs.

Lunch can be a school meal or a packed lunch. Nursery children can select meals through ScoPay, with meat, vegetarian and jacket potato or pasta options. Choices are due by Sunday midnight for the following week, and agreed allergy or dietary menus continue through that booking process. Under-fives can receive free school milk after registration with Cool Milk. Weekly newsletters and year group Microsoft Teams channels give families updates and reminders.

Attending this nursery does not guarantee a Reception place at Telferscot. Families must make a separate application. For September 2027 entry, the deadline is 15 January 2027, with applications through eAdmissions; Lambeth Council manages the school’s admissions, while families outside Lambeth should follow their home authority’s process.

Transition support is a separate matter. For children with SEND, arrangements from nursery may include additional classroom visits, meetings with the next teacher and photographs for a transition booklet. These are tailored to the child’s needs, helping make new people and places familiar.

Nursery sessions run during term time and require advance booking. Morning drop-off is between 8.40 and 8.50 a.m., with collection at noon; afternoons run from 12.30 to 3.30 p.m. Nursery breakfast care runs from 8 to 8.40 a.m., and after-school care from 3.30 to 6 p.m.

The nursery offers 15 funded hours and accepts eligible families’ 30-hour funding. Parents supply a DERN code and remain responsible for renewing eligibility. Hours beyond the funded pattern incur charges; a full day’s total includes the supervised half-hour lunch break. Contact the office for current charges and send nursery applications to office@telferscot.co.uk.

Morning arrivals use the nursery entrance. Afternoon collection is from the playground, reached through the main Telferscot Road entrance. The school uniform includes a navy sweatshirt or cardigan and a yellow or navy polo shirt; label each item.