Grasmere Nursery School: nursery life and next steps

An orchard, school pets and counting through baking give Grasmere's nursery day a concrete character. These were features of children's learning in October 2023. Grasmere Nursery School serves children aged three to five on Icknield Way in Luton; its nursery school provision shares the site with a baby and toddler unit and specialist provision for children with complex needs.

Specialist support is a substantial part of the offer. The school's SEND Information Report 2025 describes funding for up to 24 places for children with severe and complex special educational needs. That figure refers to the specialist places, rather than the nursery's total capacity.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets the framework for learning, development and care from birth to five. For parents, that means early education includes learning to communicate, manage feelings and move confidently, alongside early reading, number work and creative activities.

At the October 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that the Grasmere Grassroot Goals broke learning into smaller steps, with children returning to ideas through different activities. Baking buns and counting caterpillars helped children understand five. Stories, rhymes and conversations about seasonal changes developed vocabulary, while a lending library extended book sharing into the home. Learning was practical and repeated, giving children opportunities to use what they had learnt.

Outside, children explored nature in the orchard and cared for the school pets. The discovery shed supported investigation of the natural world. Experiences also reached beyond the site: children planted and dug at a local community garden, and shared songs and stories with older people at a nursing home. Culture wheels completed at home brought family backgrounds into learning.

Curriculum precision. In October 2023, some learning plans remained too general, including the steps needed to develop large body movements. Children consequently took longer to master some skills. Staff with new subject responsibilities also needed training to assess how their plans affected learning. These are useful points for parents to explore when discussing the curriculum.

Every child has a key worker, giving them a familiar adult to build a relationship with. The 2025 SEND information report describes home visits for some children and collaboration with parents during settling. Families can contribute information from medical professionals, previous nurseries and other services so that support starts with an understanding of the child.

Rainbow Room Provision combines small group work with interventions shaped around individual plans. Quiet rooms and a separate garden for Rainbow provision offer distinct spaces; ramps provide access to the nurture room and Rainbow provision. Communication support includes signing, visual schedules and picture or object exchange, helping children understand activities and express themselves.

Parents contribute to individual targets, with SEND provision discussed at weekly meetings and outcomes evaluated each term. In October 2023, children with SEND, including complex needs, made good progress. Adults responded gently when children became distressed, helping them resume play, and safeguarding arrangements were effective.

Attending Grasmere does not guarantee a Reception place. Families need to make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the applicable deadline.

For children receiving SEND support, preparation for the next school includes meetings involving parents and both settings. A transition plan shares the child's strengths, needs and successful support strategies. The SENCo also arranges visits to mainstream and specialist schools with parents, while receiving staff can visit Grasmere to meet and observe the child. This transfers knowledge about the child; it does not secure admission.

Parents are welcome to tour the nursery. Contact Grasmere on 01582 593426 to arrange an enquiry. For questions about SEND support, the 2025 information report also gives senco@grasmere.nurseryluton.com as a contact route.