Torridon Primary School Nursery Review

A garden and an open-plan room give Torridon’s nursery day its shape: children can choose between indoor and outdoor learning for most of their session. This is the school’s own nursery in Catford, with play, exploration and adult-guided activities sharing the timetable.

The nursery recruitment notice covers children turning four between 1 September 2026 and 31 August 2027. Spaces are limited. Within the school, nursery belongs to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) team. Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good at its February 2023 inspection; that judgement covers early years rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Choice is built into the session. Children select activities themselves, join learning guided by adults and gather for small-group work on the carpet. The large indoor room and nursery garden are accessible for most of the session, making outdoor exploration part of the learning pattern rather than simply a break from it.

EYFS means the Early Years Foundation Stage, the framework used here to plan young children’s learning. Play and exploration sit alongside active involvement and developing ideas. Planning takes account of children’s interests and needs, with Development Matters and Birth to 5 used alongside the statutory framework.

Named nursery topics give parents a useful connection to that learning. During 2026, these included Once Upon A Time in the second spring half-term, followed by We Are Growing and Ready, Steady, Go! across the summer. Half-term curriculum bulletins provide a way to follow the themes at home.

Language develops through practical activity. In February 2023, adults helped early years children expand their vocabulary while working out how to fix material to a toy car. The task connected words to something children were doing. Early years children also explored what makes people different and special, linking learning with their understanding of themselves and others.

Part-time children receive a snack, but lunch is excluded from those sessions. That distinction matters when choosing a morning or afternoon place and planning meals around it.

For family support, the school’s Inclusion team runs coffee mornings alongside workshops, courses and drop-in meetings. Parents can email the administration team and address their enquiry to the Inclusion Lead, giving them a direct route for discussing their child’s needs.

SEND support. The February 2023 findings raised a school-wide concern about inconsistent checks on learning and adaptations for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. This was not identified specifically as a nursery finding. Families considering support should take that concern into account when discussing how teaching and resources will be adapted for their child.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through eAdmissions by the normal Reception deadline. Torridon’s listed admission priorities concern care status, exceptional medical or social circumstances, siblings and distance; nursery attendance is not among them. Familiarity with the school therefore does not confer admission priority.

Morning places run from 9am to noon; afternoon places run from 12.30pm to 3.30pm. Full-time collection. The nursery starting page gives 9am to 3pm, while the school timetable gives 9am to 3.30pm. Confirm the agreed finish time before arranging collection.

A part-time place may be extended to full time through a paid top-up, subject to the school’s agreement. Contact the office for current charges. Nursery applications can be requested from the office or by emailing admin@torridonprimary.lewisham.sch.uk; nursery enquiries can also be made on 0208 6972762.