The Woodside Primary Academy Nursery

Learning about safe relationships begins in Nursery here, putting personal development alongside the first steps in education. The nursery belongs to The Woodside Primary Academy in Walthamstow. In May 2023, the school’s provision included two- and three-year-olds: an early start within a primary school, rather than a separate childcare setting.

That school connection matters most in the learning and support arrangements. Nursery is the beginning of the school’s curriculum, while families can also contact its SEND and inclusion team.

Purposeful learning is the clearest feature of the nursery day. At the inspection on 10 and 11 May 2023, children in early years encountered different learning areas through activities with a deliberate educational purpose. Curriculum planning began in early years. For parents, the useful distinction is that these experiences form the start of a planned learning sequence.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets the standards for education and care from birth to five. In parent language, it brings learning, development, health and safety together. Its learning areas include early number work and literacy, exploring the world, creative expression, movement, communication and emotional development. These are connected parts of a young child’s education, rather than a timetable of school subjects.

Development is also reviewed. Between two and three, early years practitioners must give parents a brief written account covering language and communication, physical development, and personal, emotional and social development. This check should explain strengths and any slower progress, with planned activities or support where concerns arise.

Safety education starts early. In May 2023, teaching about relationships and staying safe began in Nursery, giving children an introduction to issues revisited as they grow.

For additional needs, Woodside’s school support model starts with teaching adapted to the child. Extra SEN provision follows when a pupil needs support beyond that ordinarily built into teaching. An Education, Health and Care plan may be appropriate for complex needs where SEN support has not enabled progress. These are different levels of support, so the starting point is the individual child’s needs.

Parents can contact the SENCO through sendandinclusion@woodside-academy.org. That gives families a direct route to discuss development or support concerns with the school’s inclusion team.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the applicable deadline. Treat choosing nursery and applying for school as two decisions.

Support continuity is a separate matter. Woodside checks information at annual transitions so receiving staff understand the needs of their new children. For a child receiving additional support, that handover helps the next team prepare; it is not an admissions advantage.

For a hard copy of the school’s information booklet, nursery and prospective parents can contact the Forest site office. SEND enquiries have their own email route, allowing families to direct questions about additional needs to the inclusion team.