Harlyn Primary School Nursery Review

A purpose-built nursery with play areas of its own gives Harlyn’s youngest children a distinct space within the primary school. Children can attend from age three, with capacity for 30 in the morning and 15 in the afternoon. Those are session places, rather than a single total for the nursery.

At the Ofsted inspection on 10 and 11 December 2024, early years provision was graded Good. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Three-hour sessions provide the basic shape of the day. The learning environment covers the seven areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS): friendships and emotions, talking and listening, physical development, early literacy, mathematics, understanding the world and creative expression. For parents, this means the curriculum extends beyond early reading and number work to how children communicate, move and relate to others.

Early reading begins with awareness of sounds. In December 2024, children in Nursery were developing phonological awareness, the ability to notice sounds in spoken language. The nursery’s Counting to 6 resource also focuses on reliable counting and exploring numbers. Its own play areas add a physical space for play alongside the nursery building.

Curriculum development. In December 2024, curriculum review included early years. Across the school, some subjects needed clearer learning sequences and more precise checks on teaching. This is relevant context for families considering how learning builds over time, rather than a finding specific to every nursery activity.

A nursery teacher works alongside a nursery nurse and nursery assistants; one assistant is a qualified first aider. This gives families a clear picture of the team structure supporting the sessions. Parents and carers are encouraged to participate in their child’s learning, with their role as the child’s first educator recognised.

For additional needs, the school’s special needs coordinator can be contacted through the office. There is also a defined safeguarding contact: the headteacher leads safeguarding. Harlyn participates in Operation Encompass with the Metropolitan Police Service, enabling confidential support when a child has been exposed to a domestic incident.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal Reception process and meet its deadline. Harlyn directs Reception applications to Hillingdon Council, with an application link at www.hillingdon.gov.uk/primary.

The nursery describes entry to Reception in September following a child’s fourth birthday, with one annual intake. Choosing a nursery session and applying for a school place are therefore separate decisions. Keep the Council application alongside nursery planning.

Morning sessions run from 8.30am to 11.30am; afternoons run from 12.30pm to 3.30pm. Harlyn does not offer the 30-hour entitlement. Children taking a morning place may stay for the full day for a charge, subject to space. Charges cover the lunch hour or an afternoon extension that includes it; contact the school for current charges.

September is the nursery’s main intake. A January intake may be considered if September places remain unfilled. Nursery start and finish dates can differ from the school’s term dates, so use the nursery dates when planning childcare.

Enquiries can go to office@harlynprimaryschool.co.uk or 020 8866 1290. The office also arranges individual school tours by appointment, giving families a direct route to a visit.