Poplar Primary School Nursery

Stories give Poplar’s early years their character: a bear adventure becomes painting, cutting practice and a lesson about health. This is the nursery within Poplar Primary School, with entry from the term following a child’s third birthday. It does not take two-year-olds.

The practical choice is between 15 and 30 hours each week. That makes the attendance pattern a central part of deciding whether this nursery fits family life.

A morning session runs from 8.30am to 11.30am; the afternoon runs from 12.30pm to 3.30pm. These are distinct three-hour windows, giving families clear start and collection times.

The early years foundation stage (EYFS) curriculum includes learning through stories, creative activities and developing language. In November 2024, Ofsted described early-years activities built around We’re Going on a Bear Hunt: children painted bears, made ears using scissors and explored staying healthy through a teddy bears hospital. One story connects several kinds of learning. Painting develops art skills, while making ears gives children a reason to practise cutting.

Outdoor space is part of the setting too. The school grounds contain two playgrounds for early years, and the curriculum encompasses learning outside as well as inside. Language is an explicit focus in the EYFS environment, giving talk a place alongside practical activity.

In November 2024, children in early years were developing cooperation, sustaining attention and managing their feelings. These are useful foundations for taking part in activities with other children, as well as learning alongside them.

Families have a direct support route through the school’s Family Liaison Officer, whose remit includes safeguarding concerns, housing and food banks. Appointments can be arranged through the office. For everyday communication, the Greenhouse Schools app lets parents choose alerts for their child’s year group and report absence; the office supplies the access code.

A nursery lunch club is listed from noon to 12.30pm. The school’s meal service uses Caterlink, with food cooked on the premises each day. Its allergy procedure requires an Allergy Form to go to the office for a specialist menu.

Attending Poplar’s nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application for full-time school through their local borough; Merton residents use Merton Council’s application route. Nursery enrolment and that later application are separate steps.

Poplar’s admissions are handled centrally by Merton Council under its community-school admission arrangements. The practical implication is clear: choosing this nursery still leaves a school application to complete when the time comes.

Hours and childcare. Nursery attendance is 15 or 30 hours weekly, with morning and afternoon sessions. Buttercups breakfast and after-school care serves Reception to Year 6, so families choosing nursery need to plan around the nursery session times and its separate lunch-club listing.

Uniform. Green and yellow are the school colours. The nursery book bag and jumper or cardigan carry the school logo. The PTA runs second-hand uniform sales, providing another route to obtaining school clothing.

For enquiries, contact the school office at poplar@poplarprimary.org or on 020 8542 6989. Nursery enrolment forms are accessed using a password sent with the enrolment information. The office is also the contact for help with that process.