Dundonald Primary School Nursery Review

Monarch Butterflies and Peacock Butterflies give Dundonald’s nursery its own identity: two part-time groups built around blocks of days, alongside a full-time option. Children can join from the term following their third birthday. From September 2026, each part-time class has a maximum of 24 children. That makes the choice about a weekly pattern, rather than selecting individual mornings.

The nursery belongs to Dundonald Primary School’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Ofsted graded early years provision Good following its inspection on 17 and 18 January 2023. This is an early-years judgement within the school inspection, rather than a separate nursery rating.

Stories and conversation shape the learning. Talk For Writing and Power of Reading support the EYFS approach, with books providing starting points for vocabulary and discussion. Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised supplies the phonics programme; nursery children follow Foundations for Phonics. The nursery stage therefore has its own named starting point for early reading.

EYFS here combines learning through play with topics chosen around children’s interests. In parent language, it covers speaking and listening, movement, relationships and emotions, alongside early literacy, maths, exploring the world and creative expression. Development Matters is used alongside the EYFS framework. The emphasis on communication gives language a place across activities, rather than confining it to a single lesson.

The 2025/26 nursery plans included Jolly Journeys, Food Glorious Food and Great Growth. These give families concrete examples of the themes used to connect learning. Parents receive a plan each half term explaining the learning ahead, making it easier to connect conversations at home with classroom topics.

In January 2023, early-years children managed the established routines well. There was also a curriculum weakness: some subjects needed clearer links between early-years learning and the next stage in Year 1. The useful question for families is how those foundations are carried forward.

Preparation starts with something personal. Before joining, children are invited to make All about me bunting over the summer for their classroom, with written parental consent needed for display. Families must also return the relevant forms before the nursery start. This gives children a contribution to their classroom and parents a concrete preparation task.

Nursery teaching is organised as a job share within an early-years team that also includes teaching assistants. For additional needs, the school combines observations and assessments with discussions involving parents and health agencies. Parents take part throughout the process and can meet the SENDCO and support services. In January 2023, needs were identified in the early years and classroom teaching was adjusted to help children participate alongside their peers.

Lunch is a family responsibility: children bring a healthy packed lunch containing no nuts. The nursery welcome information also directs parents to register for free milk through Cool Milk. Both belong on the preparation checklist.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place and gives no admission priority at Dundonald. A separate application is required through Merton Council, online, with a council admissions form available if applying online is not possible. Families need to plan that application independently of their nursery place.

For entry in September 2026, the Reception deadline was 15 January 2026. That cycle has closed. Keep the nursery decision and the later Reception application as separate tasks.

Full-time attendance runs Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 3.15pm, during term time. Part-time Monarch Butterflies attend Monday and Tuesday for those hours, then Wednesday from 8.30am to 12.15pm. Peacock Butterflies attend Wednesday from 11.30am to 3.15pm, followed by Thursday and Friday from 8.30am to 3.15pm. Both Wednesday sessions include lunch.

Funded hours and extras. The part-time patterns provide the universal 15-hour entitlement. Full-time provision adds another 15 hours, funded by families or government funding where eligible. The final 45 minutes attract an additional charge where funding does not cover them; part-time families can use earlier collection times to avoid that charge. Refer to the school for current charges. Full-time payments are made before each term and cannot be refunded.

Nursery uniform requirements differ from the main school’s. Applications go to Merton Council; general enquiries go to school@dundonald.merton.sch.uk. School tours for 2027 admissions require advance booking through the admissions page. Nursery term endings also differ: check the nursery dates when arranging holiday care.