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Nursery at Lionel Walden 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Curiosity and independence shape the stated purpose of Lionel Walden Pre-School, the nursery provision at Lionel Walden Primary School in Doddington. It takes children aged three and four, with entry from the term following their third birthday. Capacity is up to 32 children at one time, so the number of sessions a family can secure depends on space and staffing.
This is provision organised around morning and afternoon sessions. Families must book at least three sessions each week, making it a regular part of a child's week rather than an occasional childcare arrangement.
Children's individual interests guide the pre-school's aims, alongside creativity, social development and exploration. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is its governing framework; practical requirements include the space children need and the balance between staff and children. Those requirements also shape how many children can attend together. Learning includes early number skills and the beginnings of reading: at the April 2023 inspection, children counted while lining up and started learning to read from the outset. Everyday routines therefore provided opportunities to practise numbers alongside early literacy.
At the April 2023 inspection, Ofsted identified early years, including pre-school, as a strength, with an environment that supported exploration and skill development. Children showed confidence, tackled problems and were encouraged to attempt challenges. Familiar routines mattered too: children could follow directions and manage themselves well. For parents, that combination connects opportunities to explore with practice in managing the everyday demands of a group setting.
A smooth start is an explicit aim of the pre-school's admissions policy. It also seeks to accommodate differing family needs within its operating limits. When a funded place is registered, staff discuss the family's requirements, with arrangements depending on staffing and session availability. This makes the initial conversation part of agreeing an attendance pattern that the setting can sustain.
Inclusion is part of the pre-school's stated purpose, with attention to individual needs and interests. These are aims for its work with children, rather than a promise of a particular support package.
Attending Lionel Walden Pre-School does not guarantee admission to Reception at Lionel Walden Primary School. Families must make a separate Reception application through the local authority's school admissions process. Treat choosing nursery sessions and applying for a school place as separate decisions.
The pre-school's waiting-list criteria include children within the school catchment who will reach Reception age the following academic year. That criterion concerns admission to pre-school; it should not be read as securing a later school place.
Morning sessions run from 8:45am to 11:55am; afternoons run from noon to 3pm. For the morning handover, staff meet children at the Pre-School outdoor gate at 8:45am. Use the nursery's session times when planning collection.
Session requests are organised through three allocation windows each year for the following term. Families receive confirmation after the window closes. Fixed bookings. Once sessions are allocated, ad hoc changes are not permitted, and extra sessions later in the term are not guaranteed. Families whose circumstances change should tell the setting promptly so arrangements can be discussed.
The funding model provides 15 universal hours during term time from the term after a child's third birthday, covering up to five funded sessions. Eligible families can use extended funding for a total of 30 hours and up to ten sessions. An eligibility code must be validated by the school, and families must reconfirm eligibility with HMRC every three months.
Additional sessions can be booked on a paid basis, subject to allocation. Charges apply to additional hours booked for the term even during absences or holidays; contact the school for current charges. To enquire, complete the Notice of Interest form on the pre-school admissions page, after which the office contacts families for the next admissions round.
Children aged three and four can attend, starting from the term after their third birthday.
Mornings run from 8:45am to 11:55am, and afternoons from noon to 3pm.
The minimum booking is three sessions per week. Sessions are requested for the next term through allocation windows.
The pre-school accepts universal 15-hour funding during term time and extended funding totalling 30 hours for eligible families. Extended eligibility must be reconfirmed every three months.
No. A separate application must be made through the local authority's school admissions process.
