Somerset Nursery School and Children's Centre

Choosing between the garden and the writing area is part of the day at Somerset. Children move freely between indoor and outdoor play, then gather for songs and stories towards the session’s end. This is a maintained nursery school in Battersea, with education for three and four year olds and early access for children aged two, rather than a nursery class within a primary school.

There are 60 full-time equivalent places. Qualified teachers work alongside nursery nurses and support staff, giving the provision a school teaching structure focused on early childhood. The light, spacious interior connects to an equipped garden, so outdoor learning forms part of a session rather than a separate outing.

Play provides the route into learning. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together language, movement and emotional development with early reading, mathematics, creativity and understanding the world. Staff observe children’s interests and abilities, then plan their next learning steps. Adult-led group activities sit alongside children’s own explorations, with adults joining play to extend language and skills.

Inside, the home corner has dressing-up clothes, while construction equipment, a science and nature area and a book corner support different interests. Photographs label resources so children can choose materials and return them independently. Paint, clay and glue are part of the practical work, making clothes suitable for messy play useful everyday equipment.

The garden offers changing opportunities: children grow plants, weed beds and look for insects. Sand, water and clay support exploration indoors and outside. These activities give children things to examine, describe and question. Small-group songs, rhymes and stories bring the session together at its close. Somerset Library also lets families borrow a book, one at a time, for up to a week, extending shared reading into home life.

Settling takes time with a familiar adult. Parents should expect to remain for the first few days, potentially longer, while children build relationships with staff. A Key Person follows each child’s progress and meets the family to develop an individual learning plan. September starts are staggered to help children settle. Parent Hub carries messages, photographs, documents and newsletters, providing another route for communication.

Lunch is cooked on site each day. An adult eats with the children at each table, and a vegetarian choice is always offered. Staff organise healthy snacks, with milk and water accessible during sessions; families are asked to keep food and drinks out of children’s bags. Full-time children stay for lunch, with meals charged separately. Families facing difficulty paying for meals can discuss other options with the headteacher.

Support includes a sensory room and a SENCo working with other professionals. Speech and language provision includes Talk Shop sessions, alongside individual support; occupational therapists and a visiting educational psychologist also contribute. In May 2023, Ofsted found that children’s SEND needs were recognised promptly and accurately, with teaching approaches enabling exceptional progress. That finding gives families a concrete basis for assessing the support here.

Attending Somerset does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. Treat the nursery choice and the primary school application as separate decisions.

The educational handover is practical: staff prepare a progress summary, share it with parents and send a copy to the receiving primary school. This gives the next school information about the child’s learning, separately from the allocation of a place.

Somerset operates during school terms. Morning sessions run from 9:15 to 11:45, afternoons from 12:45 to 15:15, and the full day from 9:15 to 15:15 for children over three. Two-year-old places are part-time only. The admissions page describes four mornings or afternoons plus one full day for a 15-hour place, while the provision page describes fixed morning or afternoon sessions five days a week, with daily attendance expected. Confirm the applicable attendance pattern with the office before arranging childcare.

The universal 15-hour entitlement begins in the term following a child’s third birthday; eligible families can access 30 hours. Paid options include extending a 15-hour place to full time. Invoices distinguish funded hours, paid hours and meal charges. Ask the office for current charges.

Apply online or use the paper application form. For enquiries, telephone 020 7223 5455 or email admin@somerset.wandsworth.sch.uk; visits can be arranged by contacting the nursery. Children should register promptly at their session’s start. Collection is due by 11:45 or 15:15, with parents asked to come five minutes beforehand and tell staff if a different adult will collect.