Greenfields Community Primary School Nursery Review

Learning to share, look after resources and manage small tasks gives Greenfields Nursery its character. This is the nursery provision within Greenfields Community Primary School on Oxford Road in Shepway, Maidstone, with children admitted from two years old. Independence starts early: learning how to take part in a group sits alongside learning how to do things for yourself.

In January 2025, children joining the nursery were learning expectations for behaviour alongside practical independence. Looking after play resources and putting them away made responsibility part of the day. These are small tasks with a useful purpose: children practise contributing to the group rather than leaving everything to an adult.

Sharing and playing together also formed part of early-years learning. Adults helped children cooperate, while children showed care towards one another. The early-years curriculum combined preparation for the next stage of education with life skills. For parents, the emphasis is on both learning and participation: becoming comfortable with other children, understanding expectations and taking increasing responsibility.

Adults built relationships with children as they got to know them in January 2025. That matters for young children beginning nursery, because learning the expectations of a new group depends partly on feeling comfortable with the adults supporting them.

For special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), the school's approach brings together observations of learning, assessments, parents' information and children's views. Advice can also come from independent therapists or LiFT, the Local Inclusion Forum Team. This gives families a part in identifying needs rather than treating assessment as a classroom-only exercise.

Support may involve individual work or a small group, including help with speech and language, therapy or Sensory Circuits. Targeted interventions run over 6–8 weeks and are reviewed, allowing support to be adapted. Where a child needs a personalised plan, families take part in its review at least three times during the academic year. Parents can discuss concerns with their child's teacher or contact the SENCO through the school office or by email.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process; the route here is Kent County Council (KCC). Choosing the nursery and applying for school are separate decisions, so families should keep the Reception application as a distinct task rather than assume their child moves on automatically.

Breakfast Club and After School Club accept nursery children as well as older pupils. Breakfast provision begins at 7.30am and continues until school starts; after-school provision runs from 3.15pm to 6pm. These options can extend childcare around the nursery day.

Food is included in the clubs: breakfast consists of toast, cereal and water, while food from 5pm in the after-school club can include fruit, a sandwich and water. This is a practical distinction for families arranging care across the afternoon and early evening.

Reach More Parents handles club bookings and payment. Bookings made on the day go directly through the school instead of the app, so the booking route changes for last-minute arrangements. Families using Tax-Free Childcare for this extended provision must pay in advance each term, and those payments cannot be refunded or exchanged for other provision. Additional ad-hoc sessions are booked through Reach More Parents and cannot be paid for using Tax-Free Childcare payments.

For enquiries, contact the school office on 01622 758538.