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Nursery at Franciscan Primary 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Long stretches of play give Franciscan’s nursery its character, with forest school, a science room and a library extending the possibilities beyond the nursery classroom. This is the school’s own provision in Tooting, welcoming children aged two to four. Sapling is the group for two-year-olds; Willow and Maple serve the older nursery children.
Ofsted rated the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 6 and 7 March 2024. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.
Play has time to develop here. Adults observe children’s games and join them to introduce language, demonstrate reasoning and help ideas grow. Blocks and cardboard boxes have open-ended uses: a box can become a car rather than dictate a single activity. Resources reflect children’s interests, abilities and cultural backgrounds, giving them familiar starting points for exploration.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets the framework for learning, development and care; Development Matters guidance also shapes the curriculum. In practice, children’s interests and developmental needs help determine what they explore. Structured carpet activities begin from age three, alongside time for children to choose activities indoors and outside.
The day begins at 08:50, followed by registration at 09:00 and a focused carpet activity at 09:05. Child-led play and adult-led activities alternate with further group time. Lunch falls at 11:45; a literacy or maths carpet session follows at 13:00. Children tidy up before a story or song brings the day towards its 15:15 finish.
Reading spaces extend outside as well as indoors. Daily stories, songs, rhymes and Question Bears give language several routes into play. In March 2024, nursery children were learning to recognise sounds through games, rhymes and stories, building foundations for later reading. A music room and outdoor learning spaces add further settings for exploration.
Independence is practised through everyday tasks: sharing equipment, using it safely and putting it away. Before starting, families are encouraged to practise handwashing, toileting, dressing and communicating needs. For children joining with identified SEND, the SENCO arranges a meeting with parents or carers to support continuity.
Fruit and milk are provided daily. At lunchtime, children can have a healthy packed lunch or school meals, which are currently free. Nuts are excluded, and families must tell staff about allergies or dietary requirements. Chocolate, sweets and fizzy drinks are also excluded. These rules matter when preparing lunch and drinks for the day.
Class Dojo carries class messages and photographs, while nursery communication also uses email and Medical Tracker. The school’s inclusion team brings together a SENCO, Learning Mentor and Emotional Literacy Support Assistant. Early years language support includes Explore and Talk, EY Talk Boost and Child-Led Book Talk, giving families specific approaches to discuss when a child needs communication support.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place or confer admissions priority. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process. For 2026–27 entry, places are allocated using the admissions criteria alone, including priority-area residence, siblings and distance, alongside the higher-priority categories.
Support for changing classes is a separate matter. For children with SEND, teachers and the SENCO exchange information about needs; some children meet their next teacher several times before moving. Familiarity can help the change, but it creates no admissions advantage.
Families apply directly to the school for nursery places. All three- and four-year-olds have a universal 15-hour entitlement; eligible working families may receive up to 30 hours a week in term time. Families who do not qualify for the additional hours can pay to extend a place to full-time. Contact the school for current charges.
Own clothes are allowed. Bring a water bottle, spare clothing and footwear without laces, plus wellies and clothing for wet outdoor play. Sapling children also need nappies, wipes and extra underwear, making care supplies part of the family’s preparation.
The school office handles enquiries and books nursery tours. Contact it on 020 8672 3048 or use the enquiry form. The nursery is at 221 Franciscan Road, Tooting, London SW17 8HQ.
There are places for two-year-olds and for children aged three to four. Sapling serves the youngest group, with Willow and Maple for older nursery children.
Children combine indoor and outdoor play with focused group activities, stories, songs and maths. The day runs from 08:50 to 15:15, with structured carpet sessions introduced from age three.
Fruit and milk are supplied daily. Children can bring a healthy packed lunch or have school meals, which are currently free. Nuts are excluded, and families must share allergies and dietary requirements.
No. Reception requires a separate application, and nursery attendance gives no priority under the 2026–27 admission arrangements.
Contact the school office on 020 8672 3048 to arrange a tour.
