Christ Church CofE School Nursery Review

Pinecones, changing weather and the first marks on paper give Christ Church’s nursery its character. Early science starts with objects children can examine, while the nursery’s home-learning guidance brings stories, counting and recognising their own name into the picture. These are small, concrete beginnings.

This is the nursery class within Christ Church CofE School on Brick Lane in Spitalfields, part of a Church of England primary school. Its learning belongs to the school’s foundation stage.

Exploration gives early learning a practical starting point. Nursery children experiment with natural materials from the surrounding area: examining a pinecone’s shape and texture, for example, or noticing changes in the weather. That gives children something tangible to describe and compare, rather than an abstract introduction to science.

The early years foundation stage (EYFS) brings together seven connected areas of learning and development. Here, the foundation-stage approach uses play and the changing seasons. Talking also supports the beginnings of writing. Early-years writing corners and role-play spaces provide opportunities to make marks, putting those first attempts into activities children can take part in.

At home, the nursery guidance suggests discussing what could happen next in a story, drawing, spotting numbers nearby and comparing quantities. Counting little groups of objects on fingers makes the number work manageable for families. In February 2023, Ofsted found that children met the school’s expectations from the early years and learned successfully. Children also took books home for enjoyment, giving shared reading a place beyond the classroom.

Support for additional needs sits within the school’s inclusion arrangements. Staff plan provision with families and outside agencies, so parents contribute to decisions about their child’s support. The SENCo can be reached through the office or at senco@christchurch.towerhamlets.sch.uk. This gives families a direct contact for discussing individual needs.

School-Home Support adds help with family circumstances and settling into school. Its family support practitioner can assist with housing concerns, health difficulties and bereavement, extending the support beyond classroom learning.

There are opportunities for early-years conversations with staff, too. An EYFS parents evening took place on 8 July 2026, while parent conferences were scheduled for 16 July 2025. These are examples of family contact, rather than a promise about the frequency of meetings.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Tower Hamlets, using its online portal or a paper form, and meet the deadline for their admission cycle.

The school advertised 15 January 2026 as its Reception deadline for that past cycle. Keep the Reception application separate from the decision to attend nursery: joining the nursery is not the Reception application.

Tours can be arranged by phoning or emailing the school office, with an alternative time possible for families unable to attend the offered dates. The office contact is office@christchurch.towerhamlets.sch.uk or 020 7247 0792.

For collection, the school directs all children’s families to the Garden Entrance through the park on Commercial Street. That is a useful detail when planning the journey home.

A separate Stay and Play gathering welcomes parents and carers with pre-school children and babies on Tuesdays, from 9.30 to 11am during term time. Stories, singing, toys and soft play offer a way to become familiar with the school community alongside your child.