The FMS Inspection Score is FindMySchool's proprietary analysis based on official Ofsted and ISI inspection reports. It converts ratings into a standardised 1–10 scale for fair comparison across all schools in England.
Disclaimer: The FMS Inspection Score is an independent analysis by FindMySchool. It is not endorsed by or affiliated with Ofsted or ISI. Always refer to the official Ofsted or ISI report for the full picture of a school’s inspection outcome.
Nursery at Rotherhithe 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Friday music, shared books and Forest School give Turtle class its character. This is Rotherhithe Primary School’s own nursery, within its Early Years provision at 61 Hawkstone Road in London. Children are offered places for the September after their third birthday.
Play and discovery shape the learning approach. For parents, the practical choice is between a morning, an afternoon and a full-time pattern, while a gradual start gives children time to become familiar with their new routines.
Birth to 5 Matters shapes the curriculum alongside the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). In plain language, learning brings together communication, movement, relationships, early reading and number skills, understanding the world and creative expression. Play and active learning are the starting points. Activities are shaped around children’s interests and development, so assessment informs what they do next.
Music has a regular place in the week: a specialist teaches on Fridays, children try instruments, and they prepare for a summer-term performance for families. Reading continues between classroom and home through a book and reading record; books change at least weekly. Once children have settled, Reading Café invites parents into class for twenty minutes of shared reading. That gives families a specific way to join in.
Outdoor learning includes Forest School activities, with a dedicated Forest School area in Southwark Park. The approach encourages children to make decisions, explore their questions and try skills such as using tools and making structures. Indoors, toys and books promoting inclusion form part of the learning environment. Creative learning includes role play, dance, art and music, giving children different ways to express an idea.
Settling starts gradually. Children receive a timetable for their initial weeks, and staff work with parents to adapt that introduction to individual needs. The teacher or key worker provides progress updates and next steps. Tapestry records learning moments, and parents can contribute pictures and comments from home, linking what staff see with what families notice.
Fruit is accessible during the day, and children bring a water bottle that staff help refill. Lunch takes place in the lunch hall, with children eating together at tables. Allergy information and other dietary requirements are recorded and discussed across the staff team, including temporary staff. Early Years support staff have first aid training; families receive an incident slip after treatment and a telephone call for a head injury.
Zones of Regulation helps children talk about feelings. MindUp uses stories and puppets to explore the brain and behaviour, alongside three daily relaxation breaks lasting 2–3 minutes. Personal care has a concrete provision too: the nursery classroom toilets contain a changing unit. For SEND concerns, parents can speak first to the class teacher and arrange a SENCO meeting; termly SEND discussions provide opportunities to review support.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place or confer admission priority. Families must make a separate application through their home local authority’s coordinated admissions process and meet the deadline for their entry year. Southwark residents use the Common Application Form through Southwark.
Transition support is a separate matter. For children with significant SEND, moving classes can involve information sharing with the next teacher, visits to the new class and a transition book for home. Where significant learning barriers are identified in nursery, the school may request Southwark SENDIF support before Reception. This can bring external expertise into planning the child’s next steps.
Morning sessions run from 9:00am to noon; afternoons run from 12:15pm to 3:15pm. The full-time pattern is Monday to Friday, 9:00am–3:15pm. These different collection times matter when arranging the family day.
Uniform includes a burgundy school jumper or fleece, a white shirt or polo shirt, and grey or black bottoms. Children need spare clothes and a burgundy book bag, with belongings labelled. Drop-off and collection are at the classroom; late collection goes through the office. Children cannot leave with an adult staff do not know or anyone under 16.
For nursery enquiries or a school tour, call 020 7237 1586. Families can join the nursery waiting list once their child is two.
Places are offered for the September following a child’s third birthday. Children can join the waiting list from age two.
Morning sessions are 9:00am–12:00pm and afternoons are 12:15pm–3:15pm. Full-time attendance runs Monday to Friday, 9:00am–3:15pm.
Children have a gradual introduction over the initial weeks, with a settling timetable adapted in partnership with parents to their individual needs.
No. Nursery attendance gives neither a guaranteed place nor admission priority. A separate application through the home local authority is required.
The teacher or key worker shares progress and next steps. Tapestry records learning moments and allows parents to add pictures and comments from home.
