Holyport CofE Primary School Nursery Review

Play and first friendships give Holyport’s Pre-Reception provision its character. Based within the Reception Foundation Unit, the nursery introduces children to learning alongside others, with an approach the school describes as centred on play and practical experiences. For some children, Pre-Reception brings their first experience of independence from parents and carers.

Children normally join at the start of the school year in which their fourth birthday falls. The school’s Christian foundation shapes its stated ambition for children to feel respected and valued, while its admissions welcome families of any faith or none. Parents are asked to respect that Christian ethos.

Practical exploration is the nursery’s stated approach to learning. Play provides the starting point, and socialising with other children is an explicit part of Pre-Reception’s purpose. For a child beginning to spend time away from family, learning to be part of a group matters alongside the learning activities themselves.

The Foundation Stage follows the Foundation Stage Profile and Early Learning Goals, the framework for children’s early learning. In October 2024, Ofsted found that children in the early years regularly worked on forming letters and progressed promptly to writing words. That gives parents a concrete example of how early writing develops through practice.

In October 2024, Ofsted found that the youngest children became familiar with routines, settled and formed friendships promptly. Those predictable routines matter for children making their first separation from parents or carers.

Support for special educational needs and disabilities sits within the school’s wider structure. The school aims to recognise needs early and monitor progress, with teachers supported by the special educational needs coordinator and, where appropriate, outside professionals. Families can contact the SENCo through senco@holyportprimaryschool.co.uk or by telephone on 01628 627743.

Across the school, staff receive safeguarding training when joining and at least at the beginning of every other academic year, supplemented by online training and further updates. Welfare concerns are discussed with parents first unless doing so could work against the child’s welfare.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through RBWM Admissions and meet the normal deadline for their entry year. Treat that application as a separate task, even while your child is attending Pre-Reception.

Reception admission. Joining the nursery and applying for the first Reception place are separate processes. Families should plan for both rather than assume that nursery enrolment settles the next stage.

For the September 2023 intake, the nursery offered morning places from 8.30am to 11.30am, Monday to Friday. The school timetable also places the end of the part-time Pre-Reception morning at 11.30am, an important collection time for families organising their day.

Nursery enquiries can go to admissions@holyportprimaryschool.co.uk. The school office operates from 8.00am to 4.30pm on weekdays during term time, giving parents a defined window for telephone contact. Curriculum meetings take place annually, and curriculum updates go home each short term, helping families keep track of their child’s learning.