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Nursery at Paxton 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Play, stories and music give Paxton’s nursery its character. Part of Paxton Primary School on Woodland Road in London, the provision sits within an early-years curriculum built around practical exploration and conversation. Children have indoor and outdoor learning spaces to explore, with equipment intended to develop movement and the hand control needed for making marks.
Ofsted graded the school’s early-years provision Good at its inspection on 11 and 12 June 2024. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery. The balance for parents is encouraging provision alongside specific concerns about consistency in teaching and assessment.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together learning about relationships, communication, movement, reading and writing, number, the world and creative expression. At Paxton, play provides the route into these areas. Books, practical experiences and conversations with adults give children ways to explore ideas rather than learning only through formal instruction.
Termly topics provide a recognisable thread. Know me to teach me begins with relationships, children’s preferences and exploration of the learning spaces. Once upon a time uses traditional tales for discussion, acting out stories and putting events in order, connecting vocabulary with imaginative play. Our wonderful world! turns attention to the surroundings near school and caring for nature, with outdoor learning central to the topic.
Music has a distinct place in the week. Early-years children receive weekly lessons from a music specialist, using Kodaly activities such as singing and hand signs alongside Dalcroze movement. This gives children physical as well as vocal ways to experience music. Nursery children also take home two or three storybooks each week, creating a direct link between classroom reading and shared stories at home.
In June 2024, early-years teaching supported children to practise learning indoors and outside, and adult interactions were generally effective. Curriculum consistency. Teaching and assessment were uneven in aspects of early years, allowing some gaps in knowledge to persist before children tackled harder ideas. Consistency in early-language support also needed strengthening. These are relevant considerations for families weighing the curriculum’s content against its delivery.
Settling starts through induction sessions, home visits and relationships with families. The opening topic then makes getting to know adults and classmates part of the learning itself. This gives the start of nursery a social focus as well as an educational one.
Paxton’s SEND approach aims to recognise needs early and involve families and the professionals supporting each child. For parents, that places discussion about individual needs within the school’s wider support arrangements.
Pabulum provides school meals, with a menu rotating over three weeks and changing twice a year. Nursery meals are charged, with payment through ParentPay; contact the school for current charges. Packed lunches are another option. They must exclude nuts, sweets, fizzy drinks and glass bottles, and the lunchbox should carry the child’s name and class.
Attending Paxton’s nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the local authority where they live, using the e-admissions portal. Treat that application as a separate step from nursery enrolment. The school offers help with completing it and directs families to the local authority’s admission arrangements.
Full-time and part-time nursery places are offered. Use the online Nursery Application Form to apply, and direct general enquiries to office@paxtonprimary.co.uk or 020 8670 2935.
The EYFS uniform uses a green polo shirt, blue sweatshirt and grey trousers or skirt, with grey socks or tights and black shoes. Branded items are optional provided the colours match. The Friends of Paxton School pre-loved uniform shop offers another way to obtain clothing. Label each item so it can be returned if misplaced.
No. Reception requires a separate application through your home local authority’s e-admissions route.
Yes. Paxton offers both full-time and part-time nursery places, with applications made through its online Nursery Application Form.
The early-years approach includes induction sessions, home visits and partnerships with parents. Know me to teach me focuses on relationships and becoming familiar with the learning spaces.
Nursery school meals are charged and paid for through ParentPay. Contact the school for current charges. Children can also bring a packed lunch that follows the school’s food rules.
Nursery children take home two or three storybooks each week. Paxton encourages daily reading aloud, talking about characters and events, and retelling stories with puppets.
