Christ the Sower Ecumenical Primary School Nursery Review

Child-led play and the CARE ethos shape Daisy Class, the nursery at Christ the Sower Ecumenical Primary School in Grange Farm, Milton Keynes. Known within the school as Foundation 1, it gives children a distinct class identity within the wider primary setting. The Christian character is part of the approach: CARE links choices, aspiration, reflection and engagement to how children learn and relate to others.

Ofsted judged the school's early years provision Good at its inspection on 14 and 15 November 2023. That judgement covers the early years stage within the school rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Children's interests help determine the learning. Within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), activities address physical, emotional, social and intellectual development, with expectations matched to children's needs. In parent terms, learning involves choosing, exploring and building relationships as well as developing knowledge.

Play that children initiate is central to this approach. Role play includes imagining the work of people who help others, while continuous provision gives children opportunities to pursue their interests through play. Sensory exploration and time to investigate questions encourage them to test ideas for themselves. Stories and role play also introduce different cultures and help children consider their own identity.

The CARE approach brings social learning into these activities. Children practise expressing feelings, listening to another person's ideas and taking turns. Visits within the local area extend early years learning about people and places beyond the classroom.

In November 2023, reading teaching gave children a positive start in early years, with staff following a planned sequence of phonics. Curriculum planning extended from Nursery onwards, although some foundation subjects needed clearer ordering of knowledge and more precise checks on learning. This was a school curriculum concern, rather than a separate nursery judgement.

Learning to get along starts in Nursery. In November 2023, staff taught routines explicitly and helped children practise kindness and resolve small disagreements. These are useful foundations for taking part in group play and managing the demands of a shared day.

For children with additional needs, preparation can include gathering information from families and previous settings, alongside home visits or visits to the child's setting. Pre-visits to school are arranged, and a staggered start may be appropriate. This allows the starting arrangements to take account of the individual child.

Across the school, the SENCO works with parents, specialist teaching staff and professionals including occupational therapists and speech and language therapists. Parents with concerns should approach the class teacher first. The Inclusion & Wellbeing Lead also offers confidential family support and connections to outside services, giving parents another route for discussing difficulties that affect their child.

Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. Milton Keynes Admissions Authority manages Reception applications on the school's behalf.

Keep that application separate from the child's nursery experience. Familiarity with the school and participation in its early years learning should not be treated as an offer of a future place.

The school business support team is the first contact for enquiries. Families can telephone 01908 867356 or email school@cts.odbst.org. The nursery is based at Singleton Drive, Grange Farm, Milton Keynes, MK8 0PZ.

Parents can contact the school to arrange a visit. For accessibility, the wider school building has lifts at either end providing access to its upper level, a concrete consideration for families who need step-free movement around the site.