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Nursery at Alfred Salter 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
A school garden, child-chosen play and daily Sounds-Write phonics give Alfred Salter’s nursery its own mix of exploration and early reading. Rainbow Class belongs to the school’s Phase 1 team, with class teachers and a nursery nurse. It serves children aged three to four at the school’s Quebec Way site in Rotherhithe. Children can join from the term following their third birthday, with September the main intake.
Choice shapes the day. Children select free-flow activities within an environment planned for learning inside and outside. Structured play gives them opportunities to test ideas, solve problems together and practise managing their actions. Exploring the school garden adds a concrete setting for discovering the world beyond the classroom; visits and visiting guests also feature in the early-years curriculum.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines learning to communicate, move and manage feelings with early mathematics, literacy, creative expression and understanding the world. Activities take account of children’s interests and development, so the curriculum starts with what they already bring to nursery. Singing and playing simple instruments are part of early-years classroom learning.
Sounds-Write adds a daily phonics session from nursery onwards. The programme develops skills for breaking words into sounds and putting sounds together, connecting spoken language with early reading and writing. Books and role play also provide starting points for writing activities. In June 2024, Ofsted described early-years children drawing maps around a Supertato adventure involving the Evil Pea. It is a specific example of stories giving children a reason to represent places on paper.
Family involvement has a practical focus through Early Words Together. The school has run the programme with nursery families over six weekly sessions, using activities parents can repeat at home to support communication, language and literacy. Nursery staff are the contact for participation. This gives families shared activities to carry between home and class.
Support for additional needs sits within the school’s wider provision. Needs can be identified before a child starts, on entry or later, with interventions or referrals arranged accordingly. Speech and language support is available for referred children. Bucket Time targets younger children’s listening and concentration, while the Calm Zone is a multisensory room for emotional regulation. These are school support resources, rather than a promise that every nursery child uses them.
Lunch is cooked at school and eaten in the dining hall. Vegetarian choices, a salad bar and fruit or homemade dessert accompany the meal; families can choose a healthy packed lunch instead. Dietary requirements can be accommodated by arrangement with the office. Nursery meals are charged, although the paid additional-hours package for families ineligible for funded full-time provision includes lunches and snacks.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through eAdmissions, using their home borough’s application form. Southwark residents use the Southwark form; residents elsewhere apply through their own borough, including when choosing Alfred Salter. The admissions page gives mid-January as the annual application deadline. Treat nursery enrolment and the Reception application as separate tasks in the family calendar.
Term-time sessions run from 08:45 to 11:45 or 12:15 to 15:15. The full day is 08:45 to 15:15, available through eligibility for 30 funded hours or payment for additional hours. The 15-hour entitlement normally takes the form of a daily morning or afternoon session. Occasionally, two full days plus a part day can be arranged, provided two families can share the week.
Additional charges. Lunchtime is excluded from funded hours, and a staffing top-up applies to the extra time. Contact admissions@alfredsalter.com for current charges and use the nursery’s Admissions Enquiry Form to express interest.
Wraparound care extends term-time childcare from 07:30 to 18:00. Early-years children have separate provision, with higher staffing ratios and play suited to their interests. Regular slots can be booked for a whole term with advance payment through Arbor. Occasional bookings also require advance payment and depend on availability. Holiday care is run by a separate company.
Nursery uniform includes a red cardigan or sweatshirt, a white polo shirt and dark grey clothing; tracksuit bottoms are permitted. Plain black trainers complete the outfit. The entrance map marks the Nursery & Office Entrance, helping families identify the relevant access point.
Children can start in the term after their third birthday. September is the main intake, with places sometimes becoming available at other points in the year.
Yes. The full day runs from 08:45 to 15:15 for families eligible for 30 funded hours or paying for additional hours. Nursery operates during school terms.
No. You must apply separately through eAdmissions using your home borough’s form. The school’s admissions page gives an annual mid-January deadline.
Children can have an on-site cooked meal or bring a healthy packed lunch. Vegetarian options are offered, and dietary requirements can be discussed with the office. Nursery lunches are charged, with meals included in the paid additional-hours package for families ineligible for 30 funded hours.
Yes. Nursery children can access term-time wraparound care covering 07:30 to 18:00. Contact the admin team to register; regular and occasional bookings are subject to space.
