Tower Bridge Primary School Nursery Review

Sunshine Class brings nursery children into a shared early years unit at Tower Bridge Primary School on Fair Street. Children can begin nursery at three, with Nursery and Reception working together on learning across the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). This is a start within the school’s own early years provision, with classroom relationships continuing into the transition programme.

Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Outstanding at its inspection on 4 and 5 March 2025. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.

Play and adult guidance both have a place in the early years day. In March 2025, trained staff supported activities that children could pursue independently as well as learning directed by adults. For parents, the practical distinction is that children have opportunities to try things themselves alongside help with their next steps.

Counting becomes part of a game. In the early years, children used skittles scores to practise counting, giving numbers a purpose beyond reciting them. Nursery and Reception work together to support children’s development across all areas of learning.

Little Wandle is the named phonics programme used in EYFS, with daily lessons. Alongside the counting example, this gives families concrete points of reference for early literacy and mathematics. Current topic posters are shared through Google Classroom, so parents can connect classroom themes with conversations at home.

Settling starts before the first session. Families visit the classroom with their child, meet the teacher and encounter some of the children. A teacher also visits the family at home, giving staff a chance to get to know the child in familiar surroundings.

Start dates are spread out. Children then build up their time in nursery according to their needs, with parents involved in those decisions. This makes settling an individual process rather than requiring every child to manage the same first day.

The school’s Inclusion Team can discuss additional help with parents when classroom support needs extending. Options include specialist resources and advice from the Speech and Language Service or an Educational Psychologist. The school also has qualified first aiders on site and contacts families promptly if a child becomes ill.

Food is prepared on site. The school meal service includes a vegetarian choice alongside meat or fish, plus a salad bar. These are useful details for families considering the school’s food provision; nursery meal arrangements should be agreed as part of enrolment.

A nursery place does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate online Reception application by the required deadline, and Southwark’s admissions team allocates places. Keep that application separate from nursery enrolment.

Transition support is a different matter. Nursery children spend time with the Reception teacher during the summer term, while teachers share records and assess children together. Familiarity and information transfer help prepare the next teacher for the child’s needs; they do not secure admission.

The nursery timetable gives a 9.00am to 3.30pm day on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. That pattern matters when matching nursery attendance with work and other childcare.

Contact the school office for a nursery application form. Tower Bridge can be reached on 020 7407 2959 or office@towerbridge.southwark.sch.uk. School tours can be booked through the admissions page’s form or arranged by telephone, giving families a direct route to visit the school.