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Nursery at Heber 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Weekly storytelling at Dulwich Library gives Heber’s nursery a distinctive thread: children choose books to take back to their classroom, as well as hearing stories from a librarian. Reading reaches beyond the school grounds.
This is Heber Primary School’s own nursery in East Dulwich, where children start the term after turning three at the main September intake, in the academic year in which they turn four. Later offers are possible if spaces become available. It belongs to the school’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). A nursery teacher works alongside an Early Years Practitioner and support staff, so the team includes both teaching and care roles.
Exploration and group learning share the day. Children can pursue activities in the classroom or the large outdoor learning area, with adult-led groups and carpet gatherings alongside their own choices. The EYFS connects seven learning areas, bringing language, physical development, relationships and early learning together rather than treating them as separate lessons.
Language has several named routes. Helicopter Stories and The Poetry Basket support storytelling and spoken language; Monster Phonics begins in nursery, introducing sounds. Dulwich Library’s weekly sessions add the chance to select books independently. Together, these give children opportunities to listen, speak and develop preferences as readers.
Movement also prepares children for writing. Dough Disco, Write Dance and Squiggle Whilst You Wiggle develop hand control and larger movements. A Creative Area in each classroom lets children choose materials, while guided activities introduce cutting, drawing and mixing colours. Practical maths uses objects and Number Blocks to explore quantities and relationships between numbers.
Outside, children can climb, play team games and plant herbs, fruit and other plants, observing growth for themselves. Outdoor learning includes painting with mud, building dens and looking for bugs. Sessions gather at a log circle known as base camp at the beginning and end, giving exploration a recognisable routine.
Each child has a Key Worker who follows their progress through the EYFS learning areas. Emotional learning uses RULER, the school’s approach to recognising, understanding and managing feelings. That gives social development an explicit place alongside early reading and maths.
Nursery starters follow a settling timetable. For children with additional needs, the school’s SEND arrangements allow a phased start where appropriate. A Team Around the Child meeting may bring professionals and staff from a previous setting together before entry, helping adults share strategies rather than starting afresh.
Parents can discuss concerns with the class teacher or SENCO. Individual Provision Maps involve parents and are reviewed termly; a home-school contact book may be used where appropriate. Early Years support staff receive first-aid training, and relevant staff are informed about allergies and medical dietary needs.
Lunch can be a packed lunch or a school meal. Choosing the school meal brings an additional charge for nursery children; families should refer to the school for current charges.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place and gives no priority under the listed Reception oversubscription criteria. Families must apply separately. Southwark residents apply online through Southwark Council; families elsewhere apply through their home borough. The deadline is 15 January before the September intake.
Transition support is a separate matter. Under the school’s SEND arrangements, teachers exchange information and support plans before a class move. Targeted children can receive a transition book and pupil profile, helping the next teacher understand their needs. These arrangements support continuity of care; they do not change admission rights.
Full-time attendance runs Monday to Friday, 9am to 3.30pm. The two part-time patterns group days together: Monday and Tuesday with Wednesday morning until noon, or Wednesday afternoon from 12.30pm with Thursday and Friday. Places in each pattern depend on availability. Nursery drop-off and collection use Jennings Road.
The funding model provides 15 government-funded hours, with full-time funding dependent on eligibility for the 30-hour offer. Additional full-time hours are charged for families who do not qualify. Contributions towards hours beyond the funded allocation are voluntary.
Contact the school office on 020 8693 2075 for enquiries. Nursery tours for the 2027 intake are planned from late February 2027, with further information through the office nearer the time.
Children start the term after turning three at the main September intake, in the academic year in which they turn four. Offers may be made later if spaces become available.
One pattern covers Monday and Tuesday, 9am to 3.30pm, plus Wednesday, 9am to noon. The other covers Wednesday, 12.30pm to 3.30pm, plus Thursday and Friday, 9am to 3.30pm. Both depend on availability.
No. Nursery attendance gives no priority under the listed Reception criteria. A separate application is required through the relevant local authority by 15 January before entry.
Yes. Children can bring a packed lunch or choose a school meal. School meals carry an additional charge for nursery children.
Call the school office on 020 8693 2075. Tours for prospective nursery families for 2027 are planned from late February 2027; contact the office nearer the time for details.
