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Nursery at Thomas Willingale Primary School and Nursery
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Red Apple and Green Pear give this nursery its own identity: Red Apple accommodates part-time children, while Green Pear provides the full-time option. The nursery belongs to Thomas Willingale Primary School and Nursery on The Broadway in Loughton, with places for children aged three and four. Families can choose a morning, afternoon or full-day pattern, subject to allocation.
Sounds, stories and learning to concentrate are central to the early years experience. At the April 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that nursery children received a careful introduction to stories and sounds, preparing them for later phonics learning. Early years children also developed concentration and responded positively to consistent routines and expectations. These are useful foundations for joining in and learning alongside other children.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) gives social development a place alongside educational skills here. Children are encouraged to make decisions and take responsibility at an appropriate level. Songs and rhymes are used across the school, giving young children repeated opportunities to remember learning through familiar language and rhythm.
Communication support includes Wellcomm, an early years language toolkit delivered through small groups. This gives children who need additional help with language a specific form of support alongside their everyday learning.
Preparation starts before the first session. Families are invited to a nursery open morning in the summer term, where children can meet staff and see their new setting. A Family School Co-ordinator visits children at home before they start. For children already known to have SEND, the Inclusion Manager joins the home visit, giving families an opportunity to discuss needs before nursery begins.
Nursery children are assessed continually so that additional needs can be identified. Support follows an assess, plan, do and review cycle, with parents involved in decisions. Provision Plans or One Plans record individual goals and teaching strategies; formal reviews take place at least three times a year. The wider school's support resources include a sensory room and sensory garden, while an assistant head responsible for inclusion works alongside two part-time SENCos.
Lunch offers a practical choice. During booked lunchtime care, children can have a hot or cold school meal, or bring a healthy packed lunch. This care bridges the gap between the morning and afternoon sessions.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place and does not confer priority under the 2026–2027 admission arrangements. Families must make a separate application through Essex County Council's primary admissions process. For September 2026 entry, the deadline was 15 January 2026; that admissions cycle is now past. A nursery place should therefore be considered separately from the later school application.
Familiarity is built through transition visits between nursery and Reception during the summer term. Where a child has SEND, parents meet the relevant staff and Inclusion Manager to plan support. Photographs of staff and school spaces may also be assembled into a booklet for use at home over summer. These steps support the change of classroom; they do not alter admission rights.
Morning sessions run from 8:45am to 11:45am, afternoons from 12:30pm to 3:30pm, and full-time attendance from 8:45am to 3:30pm. Families indicate a preference when applying, but their chosen session is not guaranteed.
The funding model provides a universal 15-hour entitlement for three- and four-year-olds, with 30 funded hours for eligible working families. Eligibility must be reconfirmed every three months. A signed agreement is required ahead of each term to retain the place, and funding cannot be shared with or transferred to another provider during that agreed term.
Optional lunchtime care runs from 11:45am to 12:30pm and must be reserved and paid for beforehand through ParentPay. Additional hours and lunchtime care carry charges; contact the school for current charges. Nursery applications go to the office with a long-form birth certificate. Enquiries can be made on 020 8508 7287 or at admin@thomaswillingale.essex.sch.uk.
Morning attendance is 8:45am–11:45am, afternoon attendance is 12:30pm–3:30pm, and full-time attendance is 8:45am–3:30pm. A preferred session is subject to allocation.
Families are invited to a summer-term open morning, and children receive a home visit from the Family School Co-ordinator before starting.
Optional care between 11:45am and 12:30pm can extend a morning or afternoon session. It must be booked and paid for in advance through ParentPay. Children can choose a school hot or cold lunch or bring a healthy packed lunch.
No. Nursery attendance does not guarantee admission or confer priority under the 2026–2027 arrangements. A separate Reception application is required through Essex County Council.
Contact the inclusion team at inclusion@thomaswillingale.essex.sch.uk, or call 020 8508 7287 and select option 3. Parents participate in planning and reviewing SEND support.
