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Nursery at Joseph Clarke 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Pre-Braille work featured in Joseph Clarke School’s early years class at the November 2022 inspection, giving its earliest learning a distinctive focus. The nursery belongs to a specialist school in Waltham Forest supporting pupils with vision impairment and additional needs.
In November 2022, Ofsted praised the early years class’s management and the cooperation between teaching and support staff, linking these to children settling comfortably and enjoying activities. That is a finding about early years, rather than a separate nursery grade.
Learning begins before formal reading. In the early years class, children worked on pre-Braille skills in November 2022. For families, this places preparation for accessible literacy within the earliest learning experiences.
The school’s literacy approach allows different starting points. Intensive Interaction, tactile symbols and signs are among its communication approaches; sound play and personally meaningful words feature in work with pupils who have complex needs. These are school approaches, rather than a fixed nursery timetable. The emphasis is on finding a way into communication that suits the child.
Accessible materials have practical backing. The Reprographics Department makes resources including tactile diagrams, Braille materials and text with individually chosen font sizes. This gives teachers ways to change the material itself, alongside changing how they teach. Across the school, curriculum planning is personalised around each pupil, with the stated aim of developing communication, participation and independence.
Settling depends on the classroom team. The early years finding from November 2022 connects cooperation between teachers and support staff with children becoming comfortable in class.
School support includes speech and language therapy, physiotherapy and habilitation, with programmes chosen around individual needs. Speech and language therapists involve families and teachers in treatment. The habilitation team also gives families practical advice, including support around movement and everyday skills such as dressing and eating. These services are relevant to discussions about a child’s support, rather than a promise that every child receives every therapy.
Communication and complex needs. In November 2022, school-wide improvement actions included clearer learning sequences for pupils with the most complex needs and more consistent communication systems for some non-verbal pupils. Mathematics also needed less examination practice, including for younger pupils, and more opportunities to develop understanding. Families should discuss how their child’s learning goals and means of expression will be supported.
Arbor provides school messages and lets parents update medical details and permissions. Parents can also speak to their class teacher or contact the office, giving everyday communication a direct route alongside the app.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Treat the next placement as a separate decision and work with your local authority’s SEND Team on the appropriate application route.
At Joseph Clarke, placement decisions involve the family, school and local authority. They depend on the authority agreeing to a special-school placement, together with suitable space and resources for the child’s needs. Familiarity with the nursery should not be treated as an admission entitlement.
Joseph Clarke School is on Vincent Road, Highams Park, E4 9PP. General enquiries go to 020 8523 4833 or info@josephclarke.lihtrust.uk.
An informal school visit can be arranged when the local authority considers a special-school placement appropriate. Parents can make this first visit without their child. A later visit together follows if the school’s initial assessment indicates that it may meet the child’s needs. If the local authority offers a place, the school follows up with starting arrangements.
No. Nursery attendance does not guarantee Reception admission. Work with your local authority’s SEND Team on the next placement decision.
In November 2022, Ofsted praised the early years class’s management, staff partnership and support for settling, and identified pre-Braille work among children’s activities. This was not a separate nursery rating.
The school’s Reprographics Department produces personalised materials, including Braille, tactile diagrams and text in suitable font sizes. Its literacy approaches include Intensive Interaction and tactile signs and symbols.
Arbor carries school messages and allows parents to update information about their child. Parents can also speak with the class teacher or contact the school office.
Yes. Where the local authority considers a special-school placement appropriate, parents can arrange an initial informal visit by calling 020 8523 4833. Children do not need to attend that first visit.
