St Mark's Primary School Nursery Review

Songs, stories and conversation give this morning nursery its character. At St Mark's Primary School in Mitcham, language development starts in Nursery, with carefully selected rhymes and books helping children whose communication skills need extra attention. That makes speaking and listening a practical priority from the start.

Children can join in the term after turning three, and there are 26 nursery places. Nursery belongs to the school's Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), alongside Reception. Ofsted graded early years provision Outstanding at the inspection on 10 and 11 December 2024. This is a judgement of the school's early years provision, rather than a separate nursery rating.

The morning runs from 8:45am to 11:45am. Learning combines activities guided by adults with play that children choose or begin themselves, indoors and outdoors. Activity tables accommodate both individual exploration and play with other children. There is room for children to pursue an idea themselves as well as join an adult's activity.

EYFS brings together seven areas of development. Communication, movement and social and emotional skills form its foundations; number work, literacy, creative expression and discovering the world sit alongside them. For parents, this means learning reaches beyond early reading and counting to include how children express themselves, move and relate to others.

FFT Success for All Phonics provides the named approach to early phonics. Nursery experiences include poems, action rhymes and listening activities, with oral blending helping children hear how sounds combine. A reading corner is accessible during daily free flow, and its books are refreshed regularly. Books are part of independent play as well as shared activities.

Practical exploration also extends to materials in design and technology. Early years history begins with children's own families and life stories, introducing change through familiar experiences. In December 2024, children in early years shared turns, worked cooperatively and sustained their attention. Those habits matter during group play as much as during adult guidance.

Settling begins with an invitation to visit after a nursery place has been accepted. Families meet the nursery team, who explain the settling process. This gives parents an opportunity to meet the adults involved before their child starts.

Communication continues through a home reading record. Parents can add comments, and school adults write in it regularly, creating a shared account of reading between home and nursery. For concerns about development or learning, the school's SENCo/Inclusion Manager can be reached through the office. Parents therefore have a direct route for raising concerns.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process; applications can be submitted online through Merton. Choosing Nursery should therefore be treated as choosing the nursery experience, with the Reception application handled separately.

There is continuity in the learning approach: Nursery and Reception sit within the same EYFS provision. The balance of activities gradually becomes more adult directed in Reception. That curriculum connection is separate from the allocation of places.

Monday to Friday mornings provide 15 hours of nursery provision each week. The playground gate opens for nursery families between 8:40am and 8:45am, and both entry and collection use the classroom door. The 11:45am finish is an important part of planning the rest of a family's day.

A known adult aged at least 18 must bring and collect nursery children. If the collecting adult changes, parents must tell the office, and the child must recognise that adult. Contact the school if collection will be late so staff can reassure the child.

For nursery enquiries, contact the office on 020 8648 2339 or email office@stmarks.merton.sch.uk.