Trinity St Mary's CofE Primary School Nursery Review

Sand, water and a covered outdoor area give Trinity St Mary's nursery a practical, playful character. Children can build, investigate and move between activities, with adult teaching alongside their own exploration. This is the school's nursery provision in Balham, within a Church of England community whose values are Kindness, Unity and Courage.

Up to 30 children are admitted to Nursery annually, with part-time and full-time options. The school also has provision for two-year-olds, named Tiny TSM. Ofsted graded early years provision Good following its inspection on 6 and 7 February 2024; that judgement covers the school's early years, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Gaudi Class is the school's early years setting. Learning combines activities guided by adults with play children choose themselves: making pictures and models, exploring construction materials, imaginative play and tasks that practise small hand movements. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings these experiences together, covering language, relationships, movement, early literacy and maths, creativity and learning about the world.

Outdoor access is a substantial part of the day. A covered area supports free-flow play in different weather, while climbing equipment, places to balance, sand, water and mud give children different ways to explore. These are learning spaces as well as places to be active. In February 2024, children developed vocabulary through water play, using terms including pipettes and beads, and explored quantities by sorting objects.

Number work has a recognisable structure: Mastering Number carpet activities take place daily, alongside a weekly Shape and Space focus. Construction, role play and sand or water resources give children further opportunities to try mathematical ideas indoors and outside. Stories, songs and phonics games support early literacy. Nursery has Phase-1 phonics planning, while regular story sessions give language learning another route. Families and traditions also feature in nursery learning, connecting discussion and exploration to children's own lives.

Settling involves partnership with parents and attention to each child's interests, needs and starting point. Tapestry carries learning updates, photographs and observations, giving families concrete examples to discuss with their child rather than relying only on a description of the day's activities.

Routines matter too. In February 2024, early years children were learning daily expectations from the outset, playing cooperatively and practising sharing and turn-taking. That gives social learning a place alongside counting and stories.

For children needing additional help, the school's SEND approach involves families and external professionals in identifying needs early and deciding support. This can include adapted teaching, targeted activities and help with communication or emotional wellbeing. An Emotional, Wellbeing and Communication Practitioner also works with children, staff and families, providing another route for pastoral support.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the local authority where they live, including when choosing a school in another borough. Applications under the school's faith criteria also require its Religious Affiliation Form to be returned directly to the school. Treat this as a separate decision and application process from joining Nursery.

Part-time Nursery offers a morning session from 8:50am to 11:50am or an afternoon session from 12:15pm to 3:15pm. Full-time attendance runs Monday to Friday, 8:50am to 3:15pm. The options are described as 15-hour and 30-hour places. Nursery applications go directly to the school; enquiries and application-form requests can be made on 020 8673 4166 or at SBM@tsm.wandsworth.sch.uk.

School staff also run Morning Club and Afterschool Club on site for children from Nursery onwards. Morning care runs Monday to Friday, 7:45am to 8:45am; afternoon options run from 3:30pm to 4:30pm or 6:00pm. Advance booking through Arbor is required, so families needing a longer day should book their care sessions ahead.

EYFS uniform includes a logo sweatshirt in royal blue, a white polo and black bottoms, with jogging bottoms permitted. Plan the family calendar around school term dates and INSET days. Visits can be arranged through the school, including a personalised tour.