St John's Wood Primary School Nursery Review

Sunflowers gives this nursery its own base within The Meadow, St John's Wood Primary School's early years provision. Children have a dedicated room and resources at the Lower School site on Marlborough Hill, rather than being based at the school's Bridgeman Street address.

There are 26 nursery places, with children joining in the term following their third birthday. Play and everyday experiences shape the approach. For parents, the defining combination is a school nursery with regular outdoor access and a gradual introduction to attending independently.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the curriculum framework. In parent terms, it connects learning to talk, manage feelings and move confidently with early reading, number, creative expression and understanding the world. Play gives children opportunities to investigate, make decisions and practise emerging skills.

Conversation runs through the curriculum: adults extend children's vocabulary through exchanges about their interests, alongside books, poems and rhymes. The handbook's physical-development guidance includes puzzles, small-world play, craft materials and small tools, linking practical exploration with coordination. Its number guidance uses pebbles and tens frames as examples of making counting tangible.

Sunflowers is the nursery's dedicated indoor space. Outside, children can use the outdoor area for much of their time, so waterproof clothing matters. Books can be borrowed and swapped daily, extending reading beyond the session. Learning is recorded in a class learning book that parents can see and contribute to; family photographs and interests shared through Google Classroom help the team connect home experiences with nursery learning.

The class teacher acts as each child's key person, supported daily by classroom support staff. That gives families a clear first contact. Settling begins with a 45-minute meeting attended together, followed by shorter periods apart and longer stays as the child becomes ready. The timetable can change to suit individual needs, rather than requiring every child to settle at the same pace.

Milk and fruit are provided daily, and children bring a labelled water bottle. For 2025-2026, the nursery handbook provided for a Westminster-funded hot lunch for every nursery child, served in the lunchroom. Children are expected to have learned to use the toilet before starting; spare clothing is available for accidents, and families are encouraged to leave a labelled change on their child's peg.

Daily conversations and Parentmail support communication, alongside autumn and spring teacher appointments and a summer written report. For additional needs, the school's SEN Inclusion Fund arrangements allow applications for nursery equipment, changes to the environment or adult support. Families can raise concerns with the teacher and arrange a SENDCo meeting, giving them a route to discuss support.

Nursery attendance neither guarantees a Reception place nor gives admission priority under Westminster's guidance. A fresh application is required. For September 2027 entry, parents apply through their home council using eAdmissions by 15 January 2027. Choosing the nursery therefore needs to make sense on its own merits.

Transition support is a separate matter. Children joining Reception are invited to a July school visit to meet staff and see their classroom. This provides familiarity before the change, but carries no admissions advantage.

The 2025-2026 nursery handbook gives two attendance patterns: a morning session from 8:45am to noon and a full day from 8:45am to 3:25pm. Lunch falls between 11:30am and noon for both groups. Collection takes place at the nursery's outside doors, with children handed over individually. Tell staff or the office if another adult will collect.

From September 2027, the school plans to offer 30 funded hours to eligible families and full-time places with a top-up charge for families outside that eligibility. Contact admissions@sjwps.co.uk for enquiries and current charges. Nursery applications go directly to the school; children with an EHC plan apply through their council's SEN Department.

Nursery clothing remains flexible: the SJW T-Shirt and jog bottoms from Stitch Design are optional. Choose clothes children can manage themselves and that can withstand paint, water and glue. Attendance expectations. The handbook requires a senior-leadership meeting if attendance drops below 85%, with possible withdrawal of the place. Families should weigh that requirement alongside their intended attendance pattern.