Little Loose Nursery at Loose Primary School

A canopy over the garden play space and a newly fitted kitchen give Little Loose a practical identity of its own. This is Loose Primary School’s nursery in Maidstone, currently welcoming children aged 3 and over. The opening offer was initially 15 places for the first few months, with a waiting list once those places were taken. That is an initial allocation, rather than a fixed statement of long-term capacity.

Little Loose is now operating, with a nursery manager and a redesigned interior. Its character comes from space for children to explore together, with planned activity areas within an open layout.

Indoors, the large open-plan room brings play and learning into one shared space. The internal layout has been redesigned, and the nursery has new furniture and equipment chosen for the children’s environment. Little Loose says its design gives attention to creativity, the curriculum and children’s comfort. The practical result is a room arranged around different activities rather than a single undivided play space.

Outside, a new garden play area sits alongside covered space beneath a canopy. This gives outdoor play some shelter from the weather. A secure perimeter fence encloses the garden, separating children’s play space from its surroundings.

In June 2023, Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Outstanding, a school early years judgement rather than a separate rating for Little Loose. At that time, early years teaching combined children’s interests with planned learning, and children sustained their attention in both indoor and outdoor activities. Stories, songs and adults introducing vocabulary supported communication. Those findings concern the school’s early years provision at that date; they should be read separately from Little Loose’s current facilities.

Little Loose’s manager emphasises working with parents and helping children develop independence and curiosity. For families, that makes the relationship with the nursery team part of the provision’s stated purpose, alongside the physical changes to the rooms and garden.

The school’s support framework includes a SENCO and an inclusion lead. Across its early years provision, children complete a Language Link Screener during their first term to help identify possible special educational needs. This gives language development a specific place in early assessment.

Where SEND support is needed, the school uses a cycle of assessment, planning, action and review. Parents contribute to the decisions, and support is adjusted as staff assess how it is working. These are school arrangements, rather than a promise that every child will receive the same intervention.

Attending Little Loose does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal admissions process, coordinated by Kent County Council, and meet the deadline for their child’s entry year.

For the September 2026 intake, applications closed on 15 January 2026. That cycle is past. Treat choosing nursery care and applying for Reception as two separate decisions.

Little Loose operates for 48 weeks each year, so its calendar extends beyond a term-time pattern. Optional extras may change in price; contact the nursery for current charges.

Nursery enquiries go directly to loosenursery@loose-primary.kent.sch.uk or 01622 427862. Completed application forms also go to that email address. Use these nursery contacts rather than the main school office, so the enquiry reaches the team handling Little Loose applications.