Grove Primary School Nursery Review

Woodland exploration gives Grove’s nursery its character: children can hunt for bugs, build dens and paint with mud through Forest School. This is the nursery within Grove Primary School in East Dulwich, with entry in the September after a child’s third birthday. Its early years approach centres on play, with children exploring independently and alongside adults.

Families have a choice of 15-hour and 30-hour places. The distinction matters for planning childcare: part-time attendance follows a fixed pattern across the beginning of the week, while full-time attendance runs Monday to Friday.

Play is the starting point for learning. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings education and care together, recognising that children develop at different speeds. Learning through play includes communication and language, physical development, personal and social skills, literacy, mathematics and understanding the world. At Grove, independent discovery sits alongside adult support, giving children opportunities to follow an interest and receive help extending it.

Forest School adds a concrete outdoor setting: the school’s woodland. A qualified Forest School leader manages sessions, which move from a group conversation into an activity and exploration, then a snack and warm drink before children gather to reflect. Making feeders for birds, searching for bugs and building dens turn the natural surroundings into materials for learning.

Outdoor sessions take place in different weather conditions, with high winds the exception. Waterproof coats and trousers are supplied; families provide suitable footwear and seasonal clothing. That makes dressing for outdoor learning part of the routine.

Books travel between nursery and home. Children can regularly choose classroom books to borrow, giving families a way to share stories connected to their child’s interests. Cooking, sensory exploration and making playdough are also examples of activities supported by voluntary family contributions. These bring practical materials into children’s learning.

Settling starts before nursery begins, through home visits and conversations with parents. Nursery assessments include a baseline and checks on language, helping staff identify where additional support may be useful. Extra speech and language groups and support for children learning English as an additional language are available in nursery.

Tapestry gives each nursery child an individual online learning journal. Parents can see photographs and observations, contribute their own pictures and videos, and share comments with keyworkers. Conversations at collection or drop-off and parents’ evenings provide further opportunities to discuss a child’s experience.

Lunch occupies the period from noon to 1pm. Nursery children are eligible for a free school meal provided by Southwark Council, or families can choose a packed lunch; the choice is made for a term. Fruit is offered as a snack, nursery children are offered milk during the day, and drinking water is accessible in early years classrooms.

Physical access includes rails in foundation stage toilets and an accessible toilet in the EYFS classrooms. For children with additional needs, parents can discuss concerns with the class teacher and request a SENCO meeting through the teacher or office.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place or confer admission priority. Families must make a separate application through their resident local authority’s coordinated admissions process, following its normal timetable and deadline. For Southwark residents, the route is the online Common Application Form.

Transition support for children with significant SEND is a separate matter. When changing classes within Grove, arrangements include information sharing with the next teacher and opportunities to meet that teacher and visit the classroom. A transition book may also go home for families to read during the holidays. These arrangements support familiarity; they do not alter admission entitlement.

Part-time nursery runs from 9am to 3.30pm on Monday and Tuesday, followed by Wednesday from 9am to 11.30am. Full-time nursery runs from 9am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday. Families using the extended entitlement need a valid 30-hour code confirmed before starting and must renew it every three months.

Uniform is currently optional. Practical clothing that children can manage themselves suits toileting, messy activities and outdoor learning; belongings should carry the child’s name and class. Collection is from the classroom, and children cannot leave with an unfamiliar adult or anyone under 16. Studybugs is used to report absence.

A voluntary contribution is requested each half term for learning resources and activities. Contact the school office on 0207 274 1829 or school@dkh.southwark.sch.uk for nursery enquiries and current charges. School open days require advance booking through an online form.