Kilmorie Primary School Nursery Review

Biscuit dough, climbing and singing give Kilmorie’s nursery a practical character. Children build hand control through cooking, develop movement through play and have a music lesson each week. These are concrete ways to learn through doing.

Part of Kilmorie Primary School in Forest Hill, the nursery welcomes children from age three and has capacity for up to 78 places across two sessions. Its Early Years Phase handles nursery applications and offers. Morning and full-day places make this a regular weekday commitment rather than occasional childcare.

Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 10 and 11 July 2024. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.

Play provides the starting point for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). In parent terms, learning combines talking and relationships with physical development, then connects these with number, literacy, creative expression and understanding the world. Children explore ideas, try out solutions and practise staying with a task. The emphasis is on active participation.

Outdoor learning has specific resources behind it. Dedicated early-years outdoor spaces include scooters, balls, climbing equipment and materials for building. Children can practise balance, coordination and larger movements through play. In July 2024, nursery activities included climbing and balancing, while weekly cooking involved cutting biscuit and pastry dough with simple tools. Those small movements develop increasingly controlled use of the hands.

Books and music add another rhythm to the week. Nursery children regularly heard carefully selected stories in July 2024, introducing them to books and early reading experiences. Maths learning in the EYFS uses imaginative play alongside games, songs and stories, connecting numbers with familiar experiences. Weekly music lessons, often held in the purpose-built music block, sit alongside phase singing assemblies. Rhymes, movement and singing games form the early-years music curriculum.

Teaching focus. In July 2024, some early-years activities were insufficiently connected to the intended learning, and checks on understanding were inconsistent. This matters because an engaging activity also needs to help children grasp and retain its central idea.

A nursery teacher and nursery nurse roles sit within the staff team. In July 2024, supportive adult relationships helped early-years children recognise their feelings and obtain help, while children played cooperatively. Emotional support therefore accompanies the practical learning.

Food also has an educational role: early-years children had regular opportunities to learn about healthy foods in July 2024. For families needing additional support, the school’s SEND approach includes adjustments for disability, support for medical needs and informing parents when special educational provision is made. The SEND contact is send@kilmorie.lewisham.sch.uk.

Communication includes a weekly school newsletter covering activities and forthcoming events. All staff receive safeguarding training annually, giving nursery families a school-wide framework for raising concerns and supporting children’s welfare.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place at Kilmorie. Families must apply separately through Lewisham Council by the normal Reception deadline; the council allocates places using its admission criteria. Treat the nursery choice and the Reception application as separate decisions.

The nursery information page lists mornings from 8:45am to 11:45am and full days from 8:45am to 3:15pm. The application form gives different finishing times and also lists afternoon places, so confirm your offered session and collection time with the school. Attendance is expected every weekday, and the usual minimum commitment is three terms. This model suits families able to keep a consistent weekly pattern.

Part-time places use the 15-hour funded entitlement. All-day places are offered to families eligible for 30 funded hours; a chargeable full-day place may also be considered if spaces remain. For children with 30-hour funding, the school requests a voluntary contribution because the full-day timetable exceeds those hours, with its top-up policy linking the contribution to lunchtime supervision. Contact the school for current charges.

Nursery enquiries go to admissions@kilmorie.lewisham.sch.uk. There is no uniform: manageable clothes and footwear suitable for running and play are the practical priorities. School Streets restrictions affect Kilmorie Road and Elsinore Road on weekdays from 8:15am to 9:15am and 2:45pm to 3:45pm, so plan travel around those access limits.