Kender Primary School Nursery Review

Forest School gives Kender’s nursery a connection to nature on its own school site in New Cross. Play and exploration shape the provision, with communication and learning to get along with other children central to its approach. This is a school-based start, led by a teacher working alongside support staff.

Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 11 and 12 March 2025. That judgement covers early years within Kender Primary School; it is not a separate nursery rating.

Birth to Five Matters guides the nursery’s approach. In practical terms, the emphasis is on exploring through play while developing speech and social skills. The early years foundation stage here is about those beginnings: children learning to communicate and participate with others, rather than a day described through formal subject lessons.

Sharing and cooperation have a concrete place in that picture. In March 2025, nursery children were taking turns and working successfully with classmates. Across early years, children participated enthusiastically in stories, repeating phrases and acting out a Bear Hunt. These are opportunities to listen, speak and join a shared activity.

Outside, the designated Forest School area brings seasonal experiences into the school grounds. Early years children attend regularly. Activities change with the season: spring brings searches for small creatures and new growth, while summer includes mud play and water in the digging area. Resident chickens add another dimension, with children learning about their care and collecting eggs. Nature becomes something to engage with, rather than simply look at.

A teacher leads the nursery, supported by other staff. For families whose child needs additional support, the school’s SEND arrangements provide a route to the SENCo. Its SEND policy and information report set out provision and responsibilities, alongside a Local Offer linked to both Lewisham and Southwark.

Communication extends beyond individual enquiries. A Friday newsletter gives families a regular source of school news. Friends of Kender, the parent teacher association, also provides a social network: parents and carers become members automatically. Its purchases include the chickens and their coop, connecting parent involvement with a physical feature children can use.

Attending Kender’s nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process. Kender’s admissions page directs parents to Lewisham’s admissions team and identifies Lewisham Education as responsible for the school’s admissions policy. Treat the nursery choice and the Reception application as two separate decisions.

The nursery directs enquiries to the school office. Contact the office team at office@kender.lewisham.sch.uk or telephone 020 7639 4654; the school is on Kender Street, London SE14 5JA.

Families can contact the office to arrange a school visit and ask whether it includes the nursery. General questions also go to the office team, so there is a clear starting point for contact.