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Nursery at Laddingford St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Play can move straight from classroom to outdoors at Laddingford Nursery: every play session allows children to use the dedicated outdoor space. Children join from age three and learn alongside Reception children in Pippin Class. It is a shared early years setting within Laddingford St Mary's primary school, rather than a separate nursery classroom.
Pippin accommodates up to 26 children per session, across Nursery and Reception. A qualified teacher works alongside a teaching assistant with an Early Years Level 3 qualification. The nursery describes its approach as inspired by curiosity, using resources that children can explore in different ways rather than towards a single prescribed result.
A gentle opening gives the day its rhythm. From 8:40, children register themselves and take part in a check-in before choosing activities. Adults bring children together for guided group work during the longer stretches of independent play. Stories conclude the morning's learning, with morning children collected between 11:45 and 12:00. Lunch follows, and afternoon children arrive at 12:45. The afternoon includes worship, more play and another story session.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) connects learning to children's interests. Its seven areas cover movement, communication and emotional development alongside literacy, mathematics, creative work and understanding the world. Group teaching sits alongside play, with staff planning opportunities to develop language, social skills and early reading and writing. Little Wandle is the named phonics programme used from Nursery onwards.
Inside, a large classroom combines a carpet space with distinct areas for learning. Outside access during play means children can take their activity beyond the classroom. Pippin also has a six-week Forest School block in Term 6, adding time in a natural setting. Nursery children take part in balanceability too, giving physical activity a named place in the provision.
In March 2023, Ofsted graded the school's early years provision Good. Children in early years maintained their attention, practised counting and numbers, and developed storytelling through descriptions of characters and events. These findings concern the school's early years provision at that time; the judgement is not a separate nursery rating.
Each child has an allocated key person who helps them become familiar with the setting and acts as a contact for parents. Observations guide what the child learns next. The nursery expects all members of staff to be approachable, alongside the child's named key-person contact.
Settling involves parents directly. They stay for at least the first session and continue for an appropriate period until their child has settled. That requires some time in the family's diary, but allows the start to respond to the child rather than a fixed departure point.
Food is also social time. Caterlink supplies hot lunches, eaten in the school hall with peers, where conversation and taking turns are encouraged. Fruit or vegetables are offered as snacks; children attending Breakfast Club can have breakfast.
Additional needs have nursery-specific support: a trained early years SENCO works alongside the school's SENCO. Intensive Interaction helps children develop communication through shared attention, facial expression and conversational exchanges. Early Years Pupil Premium supports small-group work and extra adult help; depending on individual needs, interventions may include Early Talk Boost or speech and language support.
Attending Laddingford Nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process by its normal deadline. Choosing the nursery should therefore be a decision about the child's early years experience, with the later application treated separately.
Learning alongside Reception children in Pippin Class provides familiarity with the shared setting. That continuity is a practical feature of the day, not an admissions entitlement.
Breakfast Club runs from 7:30 to 8:40. Afternoon collection takes place between 2:45 and 3:00, while the timetable also includes a 3:15 home time. The distinction matters when planning collection around a child's attendance pattern.
The nursery offers 15 funded hours from the term following a child's third birthday, and 30 hours for eligible working parents of three- and four-year-olds. Registration enquiries go to admin@laddingford.kent.sch.uk or 01622871270. Parents are offered a school tour and a nursery visit before their child starts.
A relaxed uniform is encouraged: black joggers or leggings, a plain red sweatshirt and a white or red polo shirt are winter options. Closed-toe footwear, named spare clothing, wellies and waterproofs make sense for a day that includes outdoor play. Wellies and waterproofs stay at school.
Children can join from age three. Nursery and Reception children learn together in Pippin Class, which accommodates up to 26 children per session across both groups.
No. A separate Reception application is required through the normal admissions process, by the normal deadline.
Parents stay for at least the first session and for an appropriate period afterwards until their child is settled. Each child also has a key person who helps them become familiar with the setting.
Children are offered fruit or vegetable snacks and a hot lunch supplied by Caterlink. Breakfast is offered to children attending Breakfast Club.
Email admin@laddingford.kent.sch.uk or call 01622871270 for a registration form or an admissions enquiry. Before starting, parents are offered a school tour and nursery visit.
