Low Hall Nursery School: play, stories and Forest School

A light box indoors and a story corner beneath silver birches give Low Hall’s nursery day its character: children have materials to investigate and places to pause. This maintained nursery school in Walthamstow takes children from two, with provision for three- and four-year-olds too. It shares leadership and some staff with Church Hill Nursery School.

Ofsted judged the school Outstanding following its inspection on 17 and 18 October 2023; this is the nursery school’s overall judgement. Language teaching was a particular strength, with adults adapting conversations to children’s different stages of development.

Play moves between indoor and outdoor spaces. The main nursery room is called the piazza; its resources include construction blocks, while a light box holds translucent coloured shapes. Outside, children can explore water with containers, build with larger blocks or settle with books beneath the trees. These are different ways to investigate, talk and imagine.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) organises learning around seven areas. In parent language, Low Hall starts with communication, movement and learning to manage feelings and relationships, then builds into the other areas. Forest School adds opportunities to explore nature. Tales Toolkit uses storytelling to help children think through problems.

Teaching follows a child’s next step. In October 2023, younger children at a water tray learned vocabulary through adult commentary, while older children considered why stones sank. An outdoor obstacle course used crates, bridges and a tent to extend younger children’s movement. Small curriculum milestones helped staff identify progress and choose what to teach next.

Cooking connects practical activity with maths. Low Hall’s March 2025 curriculum example used picture recipes to develop counting and measuring, with the resulting food shared at snack time. Children also have a low sink for washing up after cooking, making the practical work part of the learning.

Each child has a key person who supports settling and keeps contact with parents. Families complete an All about me form for that member of staff, giving the relationship a starting point before nursery begins. Class Dojo carries photographs, information and stories about the day, so parents can follow what their child has been doing.

Children staying for lunch bring a packed meal. Two-year-olds have sleep mats and blankets for naps, and families supply nappies and wipes while their child needs them. Tea-time Club includes a home-cooked snack tea.

Support for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) includes a My Early Years Support Plan agreed with parents, the key person and SEND coordinator. Special Educational Needs Assistants work individually or with small groups; the Sensory Room provides specialist resources. Makaton and PECS boards support communication and understanding of what comes next. Families whose child needs substantial support may initially be offered 15 hours, with additional hours dependent on the child’s wellbeing, staffing and space. Safeguarding arrangements were effective in October 2023.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families make a separate primary-school application through eAdmissions, with places allocated by Waltham Forest. Low Hall’s guidance for September 2026 entry gave a deadline of 11.59pm on 15 January 2026; that application cycle is past.

Transition work is separate from allocation. During the summer term, the key person prepares a Transition Record, which parents can discuss and comment on before it goes to the receiving school. Staff contact Reception colleagues and organise visits. Children with complex needs can have extra visits, and a key person accompanies the first transition meeting for those moving to specialist provision.

Term-time sessions run from 9am to noon or 1pm to 4pm. Eligible working families can use a 30-hour pattern running 9am to 3pm across weekdays, or 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday with a Friday morning or afternoon. Funded 15-hour places cover all three- and four-year-olds and eligible low-income or disadvantaged two-year-olds. Paid additions must cover at least two days each week.

The weekday routine matters: children are expected to attend at least a three-hour session each weekday. Pattern changes depend on staffing and space, require at least four weeks’ notice and take effect the following term. Changes are limited to three per academic year and one per term. A change between accepting a place and starting in September counts as the autumn-term change. Paid hours involve a registration fee and deposit, followed by advance monthly payments; ask the school for current charges. School Fund contributions towards snacks and outings are voluntary.

Apply using the online form, selecting Low Hall, or contact the office on 020 8520 1689. Children aged three to four from Low Hall can book Church Hill’s holiday playscheme for all holidays together, or one holiday at a time with at least two days booked per holiday.