Hatfeild Primary School Nursery Review

Play, conversation and discovery shape the nursery at Hatfeild Primary School, where Apple, Pear and Cherry are the named nursery classes. Provision is for three- and four-year-olds, with morning, afternoon and full-day options. It sits within the primary school on Lower Morden Lane in Morden.

Ofsted graded the school's early years provision Good at the inspection on 14 and 15 January 2025; that judgement covers early years rather than a separately inspected nursery. The clearest feature of the nursery's approach is its combination of children's own exploration and teaching led by adults. Children have room to pursue an interest, alongside planned opportunities to develop new skills.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) gives the day its framework. It brings together language, physical development and social confidence with early maths, literacy, creativity and understanding the world. For a parent, that means play has a learning purpose: asking questions, investigating and trying ideas are part of the curriculum.

Teaching takes several forms. Children work individually with an adult, in smaller groups and as a class, while some activities begin with their own choices. Topics draw on children's interests, and observations help staff decide what to teach next. The balance allows children both to encounter something new and to practise it through play.

Indoor and outdoor learning spaces are adjusted as children's needs develop. For parents, Ofsted's January 2025 early years findings describe a day with frequent conversation: children could talk with staff and each other throughout the day. Songs, rhymes and stories supported language development in activities inside and outside, while children soon learned the daily routines.

Curriculum consistency. In January 2025, some foundation subjects across the school had activities that did not match the intended knowledge closely enough. This was a wider school improvement concern, separate from the positive early years findings, and matters when considering the child's longer school journey.

Evidence Me connects learning at nursery with life at home. Staff can share photographs and videos, while parents can contribute experiences and outings. That gives families a concrete way to take part and helps staff build a fuller picture of the child beyond the classroom.

Medical care follows the school's procedures. Children whose ongoing health conditions require staff intervention have a care plan completed with parents. Medication requires the appropriate forms and parental agreement; prescribed medicines must be labelled and in date. Families therefore have a defined process for arranging care during the session.

SEND support. In January 2025, identification and planning for some pupils with SEND in mainstream classes needed greater precision, and teaching was not consistently adapted to their needs. This finding concerns mainstream provision across the school; families considering support should weigh it alongside the early years judgement.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process. Hatfeild follows Merton's admissions policy and directs families to the Merton Admissions Page for the application route. Choosing the nursery should therefore be a decision about the child's nursery experience, rather than an assumption about a later place.

Places are organised as five morning sessions, five afternoon sessions or the full-day funded pattern. Four consecutive full days can be considered in exceptional circumstances when space permits, with full sessions taking priority. This is a regular weekly commitment rather than an unrestricted choice of individual days.

The term-time full day runs from 8.45am to 3.15pm. The universal offer provides 15 hours weekly from the term after a child's third birthday; eligible working families can combine it with the extended entitlement for 30 hours. The full-day pattern includes an extra half-hour each day that parents pay for in advance. Families outside the extended entitlement can pay for additional hours, with daily attendance required. Session preferences cannot be guaranteed. Contact the school for current charges.

Admission enquiries go to admissions@hatfeild.merton.sch.uk or 020 8337 1332. Early Years Open Mornings can be booked through the office and include classroom visits. The group event takes 45 minutes without the optional main-school tour, or around an hour and a half with it. Bicycle and scooter racks are inside the gates near the Bow Lane and Lower Morden Lane entrances.