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Nursery at The Alton 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Dressing up, building a rocket and learning to manage a coat belong to the same nursery day at The Alton. Play and practical independence sit alongside early reading and counting, with learning extending from classrooms to outdoor space and the lunch hall.
This is the nursery within The Alton School in Roehampton, beside Richmond Park. Children can start in the term following their third birthday. Full-time places are free regardless of parents’ employment or eligibility for government funding, a useful distinction for families whose working circumstances do not meet funding conditions.
Much of the day centres on play, with a flexible structure that follows children’s interests while introducing new experiences. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) approach here brings together communication, social development, independence and early literacy and mathematics. A story, a turn-taking game or getting dressed becomes an opportunity to practise those skills.
Six themes organise learning across the year. The Excellent Learners approach gives everyday habits a clear place: children practise listening, asking for help and trying another solution when something goes wrong. Writing their name and putting on a coat both count as learning. That makes the nursery’s aims tangible for a young child.
Classrooms and outdoor space are shared with Reception during the day. Nursery children therefore learn within a shared early-years setting, rather than in a separate nursery environment. The lunch hall is also part of their learning surroundings.
Early reading begins with listening carefully. Rhymes, songs and sounds made by percussion help children distinguish what they hear. The phonics programme draws on Letters and Sounds, uses Jolly Phonics actions and includes Tom the Bear to encourage children to join sounds together. In January 2025, Ofsted found that Nursery children received effective preparation for reading, including attention to sounds around them. The emphasis starts with hearing differences, giving meaning to the later work of recognising written sounds.
Settling starts before the autumn intake. Families visit during the summer term to meet staff and other children, followed by a home visit for each new Nursery child before the autumn start. Meeting teachers in familiar surroundings gives children an introduction before their first school day. Staff discuss routines and aims with parents and answer questions about starting.
Teachers and nursery nurses form the early-years team. Children practise sharing, resolving disagreements and expressing themselves, while the nursery aims to make asking for help feel comfortable. Additional time or support is considered when learning proves difficult. Parents can discuss individual needs with the class teacher or SENCO.
Lunch is treated as a learning opportunity too. School catering uses halal meat and provides vegetarian choices; special dietary needs can be discussed through a meeting with the catering company. School Spider carries school communications, while Nursery homework is shared through Seesaw, with paper copies provided for families unable to access it.
Attending The Alton’s Nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal admissions process. Wandsworth Council manages Reception applications; families living elsewhere apply through their home borough. The usual deadline is mid-January before the September start. For September 2026 entry, it was 15 January 2026.
Sharing classrooms and outdoor space provides familiarity with the Reception environment. That everyday connection is a transition feature, separate from the allocation of places.
The nursery offers full-time places. Parents eligible for the 30 hours childcare entitlement must register with the government. Nursery applications go directly to the school office, either in person or by email, and places are sometimes available during the year.
Uniform is compulsory, but school logos are optional. Nursery children can wear grey or navy joggers instead of trousers, making clothing practical for an active day.
For enquiries, contact admin@thealton.q1e.org.uk or 020 8876 8482. School tours usually run at 10.30am on the first Tuesday of each month and can be arranged by email.
Children may start in the term after their third birthday.
No. Full-time nursery places are free regardless of parents’ employment or eligibility for government funding. Parents who qualify for the 30 hours entitlement must register with the government.
For the autumn intake, families visit in the summer term, and new Nursery children receive a home visit before starting.
No. A separate Reception application is required. Apply through Wandsworth Council, or your home borough if you live outside Wandsworth, by the normal mid-January deadline.
Play includes dressing up, construction and stories, alongside early counting and reading activities. Rhymes, songs and percussion develop listening, while everyday routines help children practise independence.
