Shaftesbury Primary School Nursery Review

Teddy bears become a lesson in size, shape and language at Shaftesbury: nursery children sort them into groups while practising words that explain the differences. Talk has a clear purpose here. This is the nursery provision within Shaftesbury Primary School on Shaftesbury Road, in Forest Gate.

Ofsted judged the school's early years Exceptional in November 2025. That judgement covers the early years phase, rather than giving the nursery a separate rating.

Language learning runs through play. Nursery children compare objects and practise describing their size and patterns, turning a sorting activity into an opportunity to explain what they notice. In the early years mud kitchen, pretend cooking gives adults another opening to revisit vocabulary, including words for cups of different sizes. The physical resources serve a teaching purpose: children use new language while handling and comparing things.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings learning and personal development together. Across its seven learning areas, Shaftesbury includes social skills and emotional development in activities both outdoors and inside. For parents, this means learning to manage feelings and relationships sits alongside the beginnings of literacy, rather than being treated as a separate task.

Early years literacy includes Read Write Inc strategies for forming letters and Fred Talk for practising how sounds join together or can be separated within words. Storytelling also involves acting out familiar narratives. In November 2025, children returned enthusiastically to favourite books and brought expressions from stories into their play. Adults repeatedly revisit vocabulary, helping children use and understand it beyond the original activity.

Support starts with understanding the child. In November 2025, relationships with families helped staff establish children's existing skills and knowledge quickly. Children needing extra help with communication received focused teaching, and those starting with weaker language skills caught up rapidly. This gives the emphasis on talk a practical inclusion role as well as a curriculum purpose.

Parents can raise concerns about their child's learning with the Inclusion Team. The school's approach to SEND includes taking parents' views into account and supporting children's independence. It also encourages families to keep developing their home language, so those skills can support learning another language.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application, including those whose child already attends this nursery. Reception applications go through the family's home local authority: Newham residents apply through Newham, while families living elsewhere apply through their home borough naming Shaftesbury as a preference. Treat the nursery choice and the later school-place application as separate decisions, and apply by the deadline for the relevant Reception intake.

Morning, afternoon and full-time nursery sessions are offered. These are distinct choices for families organising childcare around other commitments. Eligible families using the 30-hour childcare route should give the school their code once they receive it.

For nursery enquiries, contact the school on 020 8472 0761 or email info@shaftesbury.boleyntrust.org. Parking restrictions apply around the school, which matters when planning journeys by car.