Longshaw Primary Academy Nursery Review

Stories, conversation and space to play give Longshaw’s nursery its character. Indoor and outdoor areas support exploration, while a weekly library visit lets children choose a book to take home. This is the school’s own provision in Chingford, for children aged 3 and 4, with capacity for up to 21 full-time children.

An early years leader who belongs to the school’s senior leadership team oversees the nursery practitioners. At the Ofsted inspection on 26 and 27 September 2023, early years provision was graded Outstanding. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Play and conversation work together here. Children follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), which brings together language, physical development and social skills with early reading, maths, creativity and understanding their surroundings. Adults introduce learning and children also choose activities themselves. The balance gives children opportunities to try ideas, solve problems and discuss what they discover.

Stories provide starting points for topics. Within early years, the focus book changes weekly, and a large reading area holds non-fiction, storybooks and traditional tales. Adults read aloud throughout the day. Nursery children also visit the school library every week, discussing books and exchanging their choices. Books are part of the routine.

Learning takes place outside as well as indoors, with play used to explore and experiment. Adults observe children and identify their next learning steps. In September 2023, early years staff were effective at spotting mistaken understanding and extending vocabulary. Children sustained attention, managed their behaviour and participated eagerly. For parents, the useful detail is the attention paid to what children understand and how they express it.

Settling can be gradual. Children taking the morning provision can build up their attendance over the first few weeks, and nursery starters receive a home visit. This gives families contact with staff before the new routine begins. Parents can also contribute to their child’s Learning Journey, connecting learning at home with nursery experiences.

For children with additional needs, Box Clever is a named nursery intervention for speech, language and communication. The school also draws on the Autism and Early Years Intervention Team. Where needs are already identified or suspected before entry, staff work with professionals who know the child. The school building is single storey, wheelchair accessible and has accessible toilets, making an early discussion about individual access needs useful.

Children staying through lunch bring a packed lunch. Nuts and foods containing nuts are prohibited in lunchboxes, so families need to plan food around that restriction.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place and gives no priority for admission. Families must make a separate application through the London Borough of Waltham Forest eAdmissions service. The application window runs from 1 September to 15 January; applications after that deadline are treated as late. Put that application alongside nursery planning, rather than assuming the place continues automatically.

Transition support is a separate matter. For children who need extra help with a change of class, the school can prepare Transition Books containing photographs of the new classroom and teachers, alongside individually tailored transition programmes. Familiarity and support do not change the admissions rules.

Morning provision runs from 8.50am to 11.45am. The nursery offers 15 funded hours for children aged 3 and 4 from the term after their third birthday, with an additional 15 paid hours available for afternoon childcare. The lunch and afternoon arrangement runs from 11.45am to 3.10pm. Eligible families can take 30 funded hours, with the all-day pattern running from 8.45am to 3.10pm.

Paid additional hours are invoiced by term, separately from funded hours. Optional activities can be declined without losing funded sessions. For the 30-hour provision, the nursery charges no extras; any additional trips require separate consent and sign-up. Contact the school for current charges.

Use the KS1 gate on Longshaw Road for nursery collection and drop-off. Uniform is compulsory, with non-logo alternatives permitted in school colours. To enquire or arrange a nursery visit, email office@longshawprimaryacademy.org.uk or call 020 8529 5693.