Kobi Nazrul Primary School Nursery Review

A mud kitchen, a large sand pit and Philosophy for Children give Kobi Nazrul’s nursery a character built around play, conversation and discovery. Children have time to pursue their interests alongside sessions led by adults. There is room for both making a mess and sharing an idea.

This is the nursery within Kobi Nazrul Primary School on Settles Street, Whitechapel, part of its Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Children can join in the term following their third birthday, subject to vacancies. Full-time places and shorter morning or afternoon sessions give families different ways to organise the nursery day.

The EYFS brings together early communication, physical skills and social development with learning about numbers, reading, creativity and the world. Planning takes account of children’s interests and their stage of development. In practice, that means learning through activities as well as gathering with adults: daily carpet time focuses on language, early literacy and maths, while children also choose what to explore for themselves.

Storytelling and acting sit alongside rhyme sessions and Philosophy for Children. Physical development sessions sometimes involve a PE specialist. These activities give children opportunities to listen, speak, move and contribute, rather than spending the session on one kind of task.

Inside, children can shape clay or dough, cook, make music and build with blocks. Role play and books provide other starting points for conversation. Outdoors, the mud kitchen and large sand pit are joined by climbing and balancing equipment, gardening, woodwork and weaving. Large construction blocks and wheeled equipment add opportunities for movement and building. Play crosses the indoor and outdoor spaces, giving children different materials and physical challenges to explore.

Home visits give families a chance to discuss their child in familiar surroundings. Stay and Play sessions introduce the early years classes and staff. The nursery’s initial settling pattern starts with an hour accompanied by a parent or guardian, extends to two hours with that adult present if needed, and then moves towards a morning. Staff adjust the pace to the child. A shorter stay or a longer settling period can be agreed together.

Each child has a key person from the early years team. That adult monitors development alongside the class teacher and provides a first contact for discussions about learning or care. For children with SEND, the school’s approach involves parents in setting targets and reviewing support through an assess, plan, do and review cycle. Visual timetables and movement breaks are among its support strategies.

Full-time nursery children eat a supervised hot meal in the school dining hall at 11:45am. Milk, water and fruit are accessible during the day. Trained first aiders deal with minor injuries, with families informed when the school day finishes; serious injuries and head injuries prompt immediate contact.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Tower Hamlets Pupil Services, directly to the local authority. The usual deadline is in January, and the school points families towards the eAdmissions portal. Keep the application login details safe for that next application.

The distinction matters when choosing the nursery: joining its early years provision and obtaining a Reception place are separate decisions. Plan for the application even if your child already attends nursery here.

Full-time nursery runs from 8:45am to 3:15pm. The morning option finishes at 11:45am after an 8:45am start; afternoon children attend from 12:15pm until 3:15pm. These are distinct session patterns, so the morning and afternoon options involve different collection arrangements.

Uniform combines navy clothing with a white shirt or polo shirt and black shoes. The school supplies waterproof suits, wellington boots and aprons for wet or messy activities, plus spare clothes when a change is needed.

A responsible adult must bring and collect each child, and staff need to see the child and accompanying adult before the adult leaves. Tell staff beforehand if someone else will collect. For general enquiries, contact the school office at admin@kobinazrul.towerhamlets.sch.uk or 020 7375 3626.