Hotham Primary School Nursery Review

French songs, core books and the Hotham Woodland give this Putney nursery a distinct character. It belongs to Hotham Primary School on Charlwood Road and takes children from age three, with nursery children included in school life. Families can choose a split-week pattern or a full-time place, so the practical choice is about the shape of the week as well as the learning.

Each split-week option has six places. Full-time provision includes up to six discretionary free places, alongside paid and eligible funded top-up options. Ofsted judged the school's early years provision Outstanding at its inspection on 11 and 12 February 2025. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.

Children alternate between activities guided by adults, independent exploration and whole-class carpet sessions. Small groups allow adults to shape an activity around the children taking part. Role-play spaces, topic books, games and interest tables give children starting points for their own ideas. Carpet sessions bring everyone together for stories, singing and shared concepts, with time together increasing over the year.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) connects early reading, maths, creativity and knowledge of the world with movement, relationships and communication. In practical terms, learning to explain an idea or cooperate in play matters alongside learning to count. In February 2025, nursery children were using resources to practise counting to five; across early years, children were learning letter formation and how to play safely with construction tools.

The Core Book Curriculum uses poetry, factual books and fiction to connect learning across those areas. French starts gently in nursery through repeated phrases, stories and songs. Children encounter French through familiar activities, including songs, stories and repeated phrases.

Both outdoor and indoor classrooms offer resources children can choose for themselves. Beyond those spaces, the Hotham Woodland supports language, movement and learning about nature. Its Pavilion is an outdoor classroom, and the woodland also contains denbuilding equipment. These give outdoor learning a physical setting beyond the classroom door.

Preparation starts before the first nursery session. Meetings near the end of summer term let parents meet staff, discuss the day and curriculum, and share information about their child. Families receive electronic information and a paper resource pack. This creates an opportunity to raise questions before the child starts.

Staffing includes a nursery teacher and a nursery nurse. For concerns about special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), parents begin with the class teacher. The school's support structure moves from classroom provision to targeted interventions and, where needed, specialist services. School resources include a speech and language teaching assistant and a sensory room; these are school resources rather than a promised individual package for every nursery child.

Attending Hotham's nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through their local authority's online or paper application form, listing Hotham.

Nursery attendance gives no priority under the Reception criteria listed on the admissions page. Those criteria consider looked-after and specified formerly looked-after children, professionally supported exceptional needs, siblings, qualifying children of staff and distance. Familiarity with the school therefore needs to be kept separate from the allocation of a place.

Week 1 combines Monday and Tuesday, 9am to 3.15pm, with Wednesday, 9am to noon. Week 2 combines Wednesday, 12.15pm to 3.15pm, with Thursday and Friday, 9am to 3.15pm. Full-time attendance runs Monday to Friday, 9am to 3.15pm. These are fixed patterns, so families need to match their childcare arrangements to the chosen option.

Eligible families can use the 30-hour top-up option. Paid full-time places are also offered; contact the school for current charges. Nursery applications go directly to Hotham through its online form. For enquiries or to arrange a school tour, email admissions@hotham.wandsworth.sch.uk.

Uniform applies to all Hotham children: a white polo shirt, navy sweatshirt or cardigan, navy bottoms and black shoes. Branded items come from School Uniform Direct, while generic items can be bought from ordinary retailers.