Northdown Primary School Nursery

Speech and language give Northdown's nursery a distinctive thread: children have taken part in a trial of Little Link, a programme focused on those skills. That is a concrete example of attention to early communication, rather than a promise about outcomes.

The nursery belongs to Northdown Primary School on Tenterden Way in Margate. In November 2021, it catered for children aged three and four. Ofsted judged the school's early years provision Good at the inspection on 23 and 24 November 2021; this was an early years judgement within the school inspection.

Early reading starts in the early years. In November 2021, daily phonics teaching helped children recognise letters and take their first steps in reading. Staff assessed what children knew and used those checks to arrange additional help when they fell behind. For parents, the useful detail is the connection between teaching and support: a difficulty identified in learning led to help with it.

Little Link adds a nursery-specific example alongside that broader early years picture. Nursery children participated in its speech and language trial. This concerns communication, a different emphasis from recognising letters, and gives families a named programme to understand when considering the nursery's learning.

Settling begins before the first session. Children joining the nursery have individual visits before starting, creating an opportunity to become familiar with the setting before attendance begins. A nursery manager forms part of the staff structure.

Support needs are considered early. In November 2021, staff were identifying children needing additional support from the early years onwards. Plans for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) were checked by leaders so that the help could be adjusted to individual needs.

Across the school, support follows an Assess, Plan, Do, Review cycle. Parents contribute to assessments, receive the support plan and help shape its targets. Interventions are reviewed after six to eight weeks. Classroom adaptations can include simpler explanations, extra processing time and advance notice of changes. Uncluttered classrooms and attention to lighting and noise are also part of the school's approach. These details matter when discussing how a child's needs will be accommodated.

Attending this nursery does not guarantee a Reception place at Northdown. Families must make a separate application through Kent County Council's online primary school admissions route and meet the deadline for their application year. Application dates change annually, so check the relevant cycle with Kent County Council.

Preparation for the move is separate from allocation of places. Summer drop-in sessions give children and their parents time in the Reception classrooms, with play and opportunities to discuss concerns with staff. Nursery staff share information, and teachers meet children and parents individually after the summer holidays. Children anxious about moving can receive extra transition opportunities and a Social Story. Familiarity helps with the change; it does not secure admission.

The nursery-specific session runs from 8.45am to 11.45am, with morning-only provision described as the arrangement at that time. Confirm that pattern before planning childcare around it.

For nursery enquiries, contact the school office on 01843 226077 or email office@northdown-tkat.org. School tours can also be arranged through the office. Northdown's address is Tenterden Way, Margate, CT9 3RE.