Leigh Academy Bearsted Nursery Review

At the January 2023 inspection, early years children at Leigh Academy Bearsted enthusiastically recalled making moving dragons linked to Chinese New Year. They enjoyed solving problems together. Curiosity had a practical outlet. The nursery belongs to the primary school in Weavering, Maidstone, where the school’s entry age starts at three.

Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Outstanding following its inspection on 24 and 25 January 2023. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating. The strongest nursery-specific finding concerned the expertise and energy of its staff, giving families a firmer basis for assessing the provision than the school’s overall grade alone.

In January 2023, inquiry gave learning its shape. The curriculum aligned with the early years foundation stage and used the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, with questions organising learning. For a parent, this meant exploring an idea through connected activities. The Chinese New Year dragon project illustrated that connection between a topic, practical making and shared problem-solving.

In January 2023, children in early years were enthusiastic about tackling problems together and were encouraged to think of themselves as learners. That makes participation part of the learning itself: children contribute ideas and work with others towards a solution. The dragon example also gives a specific picture of what inquiry can mean for a young child.

Early reading sat alongside that exploration in January 2023. A consistent phonics approach helped children make a sound start in early years, giving parents a concrete teaching feature to consider alongside inquiry.

Nursery staff expertise was a strength in January 2023. Leadership and staff brought both knowledge and energy to the provision, an important consideration for families choosing a child’s first school experience. The nursery-specific evidence centres on the adults responsible for early learning and the enthusiasm children showed for participating.

Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process. Choosing the nursery should therefore be a decision about the early experience itself, with the later school application treated as a separate step.

The nursery’s school address is Popesfield Way, Weavering, Maidstone, ME14 5GA. The school telephone number is 01622250040, providing a direct contact point for families considering the nursery.