Hampden Gurney CofE Primary School Nursery Review

Dinosaur eggs to count, minibeasts to investigate and stories to retell: practical exploration gives Hampden Gurney's nursery its character. The class has capacity for 30 children within the Church of England primary school on Nutford Place, whose age range begins at three. This is a school nursery with a school-day rhythm.

Ofsted judged the school's early years provision Outstanding at the inspection on 2 and 3 February 2023. That is an early years judgement within the school's inspection, rather than a separate nursery rating.

Hands-on experiences connect classroom topics with things children can investigate. Previous nursery visits to the Natural History Museum included counting dinosaur eggs and examining fossils, followed on another visit by a minibeast search and exploration of natural materials. A London Zoo trip extended work on habitats and caring for the planet. These are examples of past learning, rather than a promised trip calendar.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together language, physical development, relationships and early learning in subjects such as maths and literacy. Hampden Gurney's early years curriculum describes conversation, imaginative play and stories as ways to develop vocabulary, alongside practical counting and creative work. Children have opportunities to explain ideas as well as try things out.

Read Write Inc adds a specific approach to early reading. Nursery children begin learning initial sounds when ready, through sessions lasting ten minutes. In February 2023, early years teaching developed children's knowledge in carefully ordered steps; adults demonstrated letter sounds accurately and matched reading books to sounds children already knew. This gives new learning a manageable starting point.

The daily timetable places early years lunch in the dinner hall between noon and 1pm, with afternoon learning afterwards and a later play break. Practical learning also includes care habits: during Science Week 2022, nursery children experimented with soap and water to explore handwashing.

Settling begins with contact at home. The EYFS team visits new nursery families before children start, giving staff and parents a chance to get acquainted. For children with SEND, the school's September 2025 policy describes a gradual move towards full-time nursery attendance, managed by the EYFS coordinator and SENCO.

Support is planned with families. Children on the SEND register have individual education plans updated each term, and parents can discuss targets with teachers and the SENCO at review meetings. Speech and Language Therapy and Educational Psychology are among the specialist services that may become involved according to need. This makes support a process of assessment and review, rather than a single decision.

CH&Co provides school lunches, with menus rotating over three weeks and a daily salad bar. The meals page includes Nursery in the scheme covering school dinner costs. Lunch therefore forms part of the nursery day, with a shared dining space and a repeating menu pattern.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply separately through Pan London eadmissions and submit the school's supplementary information form to the office. Complete the Reception process by the deadline for your child's entry year.

Preparation for the next class is a different matter. A summer transition morning lets children spend time with their next class teacher. For children with SEND, nursery-to-Reception transition is coordinated by the EYFS coordinator and SENCO. Familiarity and planned support help with the change; they do not secure admission.

The nursery attendance model is a term-time day, Monday to Friday, running from 9am to 3.20pm. Regular attendance and punctuality are expected, so families should plan around that school timetable. The daily schedule identifies the nursery collection point as the Forset door entrance.

For nursery enquiries, contact admin@hampdengurney.co.uk or telephone 020 7723 7482. Nursery applications use the school's supplementary information form. Ask the school for current charges and funding arrangements before accepting a place.