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Nursery at Joseph Hood Primary School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Indoor and outdoor play shape the nursery day at Joseph Hood Primary School, with practical resources that children can use to explore their own ideas. This is the school's own provision for three- and four-year-olds in Raynes Park. Children can start in the term following their third birthday, and each morning or afternoon session accommodates up to 26 children.
The nursery belongs to the school's Early Years unit. Its emphasis is on investigation, imagination and children asking questions: a useful starting point for families who want learning through practical experience rather than a day centred on formal lessons.
Morning children begin with registration and an introduction to the day's learning at 8.45am. Indoor and outdoor activities follow from 9.15am, with lunch at 11.25am before the session finishes at 11.45am. The afternoon reverses that opening rhythm: lunch comes first at 12.15pm, followed by registration at 12.35pm and learning activities from 12.50pm until home time at 3.15pm. Lunch therefore features in both session outlines.
The Early Years Foundation Stage approach combines play with opportunities to investigate and make choices. Children initiate activities across seven learning areas, while open-ended resources encourage them to try out ideas imaginatively. Outdoor learning forms part of this provision, so the session's learning extends beyond the classroom.
Early reading begins here. At the January 2022 inspection, Ofsted identified phonics teaching from the point children entered nursery. The early-years mathematics provision also used equipment and methods children would encounter later in school, giving them familiarity with ways of learning they could build on.
Experiences beyond everyday play include annual Early Years visits from Mill Hill Farm and a paramedic. These visitors give children further subjects for questions and discussion.
Settling starts with meeting the adults and spending time in class. The school's arrangements for children allocated places include a sequence of meetings with teachers and teaching assistants. Its wider approach also uses home visits and stay-and-play sessions to get to know families before children begin.
Parent Share connects observations made at home with those made in the Early Years unit. That gives parents a way to contribute what they notice about their child, alongside classroom updates. The school's communication arrangements include a conference each term and opportunities to arrange a teacher meeting when a longer conversation is needed.
Support can involve breaking instructions into smaller steps, using now-and-next boards or providing a quiet space. The school works with specialists including an Occupational Therapist and a Speech & Language Therapist. For children learning English as an additional language, visual prompts and resources in two languages can help them participate. Wheelchair access extends throughout the building and playgrounds.
Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process. The school's admissions page directs families to online applications and Merton primary admissions information, and places are allocated under Merton Council's admissions policy.
Familiarity with the school is distinct from admission. The continuity in early-years mathematics equipment and teaching methods described in January 2022 concerns children's learning, not an entitlement to a place.
Morning sessions run from 8.45am to 11.45am; afternoons run from 12.15pm to 3.15pm. A full-day option runs from 8.45am to 3.15pm during term time, subject to the school accommodating families' preferences.
The nursery provides a universal entitlement of 15 hours a week from the term after a child's third birthday. Eligible working families can combine this with an additional 15 hours to use the 30-hour offer. The full-day arrangement includes an extra half-hour each day that must be paid for in advance. Families outside the extended entitlement can pay for additional hours, with daily attendance required for that option. Contact the school for current charges.
Tours and nursery enquiries go through the school office on 020 8542 2471. Bicycle and scooter racks near the Foundation Stage classrooms provide a practical option for the journey.
Children can join in the term after their third birthday. The provision serves three- and four-year-olds, with up to 26 children in each morning or afternoon session.
Morning sessions are 8.45am to 11.45am, and afternoon sessions are 12.15pm to 3.15pm. The term-time full-day option is 8.45am to 3.15pm, subject to the school accommodating preferences.
Yes. Eligible working families can combine the universal and extended entitlements. The full-day arrangement adds a charged half-hour each day, payable in advance; contact the school for current charges.
No. Reception requires a separate application through the normal admissions process. The school directs families to online applications and Merton primary admissions information.
Contact the school office to arrange a tour, or call 020 8542 2471 to book an Open Morning.
