Stebon Primary School Nursery Review

Songs, games and learning activities that change with children’s needs give Stebon’s nursery its character. Two-year-old provision sits alongside the older nursery within the school’s Foundation Stage, with two classes in each nursery year group. This is a school nursery with provision for different early childhood stages.

Older nursery children normally begin in the term after turning three, subject to places. Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Outstanding at the inspection on 18 and 19 July 2023. That judgement covers the early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Language and communication are a strength. In July 2023, early years staff were skilled in helping children develop these abilities, and both the indoor and outdoor learning environments had been carefully planned, including for two-year-olds. For parents, the emphasis is on helping young children communicate as well as giving them places to learn.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) here includes learning how to share and take turns through games and songs. These are practical social lessons: children practise being part of a group through activities suited to their stage of development.

Learning also responds to the individual child. In July 2023, nursery teachers adjusted activities from day to day as children’s needs emerged. The implication is useful: planning responds to what children need next, rather than keeping every activity fixed.

Home visits give the EYFS team a chance to meet children in familiar surroundings and discuss parents’ concerns. When a child comes from another setting, the inclusion leader uses information from that setting to plan support and liaises with professionals already involved. Where possible, the early years team visits the previous setting too. That gives families a way to carry existing knowledge about their child into nursery.

Settling is supported through choices of activities, time and space for a child to become calm, and close work with parents. Staff can involve colleagues or the Educational Psychology Service when needed. The approach treats distress and unfamiliar routines as matters requiring support.

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities can receive individual or small-group intervention from trained teaching assistants. School facilities include accessible classrooms, a changing bed in an accessible toilet and a medical/therapy room. Parents can discuss concerns with the class teacher or inclusion team; interpretation is offered in Urdu, Arabic, Somali and Sylheti/Bengali.

Nursery attendance gives no Reception priority and does not guarantee a place. Families must make a separate application through Tower Hamlets’ coordinated primary admissions process. For September 2027 entry, the deadline is 15 January 2027. Treat this as a separate decision and deadline from nursery admission.

Transition preparation is a different matter. Nursery children moving into the school visit their next classroom several times before the new school year. Parents are invited to meet their child’s teacher during the summer term. These steps help make the change familiar; they confer no admissions advantage.

For three- and four-year-olds, the funded part-time entitlement is 15 hours each week during term time, across 38 weeks, starting in the term after their third birthday. Eligible working families can receive a funded full-time place of 30 hours a week; an eligibility code must be given to the school after a part-time offer.

Paid additional nursery hours can be discussed with the school office. Contact the office in person or email admin@stebon.org.uk for nursery enquiries and current charges.