Perseid School Nursery Review

Learning to communicate and becoming more independent give Perseid’s nursery its character. Its Butterfly and Ladybird nursery classes appear in an early-years account that celebrates a child beginning to feed independently. That is a concrete example of the personal milestones that matter here.

The nursery belongs to a specialist school in Morden supporting children with severe and complex learning difficulties, including children with autism and physical or sensory difficulties. Nursery healthcare includes communication input and assistive devices, placing support for expressing needs alongside education.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) forms part of Perseid’s curriculum: early learning is organised around children’s development, with teaching personalised to their needs and interests. The school combines this with its Adapted Curriculum and integrates therapy goals into individual learning plans. For families, the important distinction is that learning and therapy are planned together.

Communication takes several forms. Perseid’s Total Communication approach includes signing and facial expression, picture systems such as PECS and PODD, and technology including eye gaze systems. These give children different ways to participate according to their communication needs. Intensive Interaction develops the foundations of communication through shared attention, responding to sounds and taking turns. Adults allow time for a child to respond rather than pressing for an immediate answer.

Outdoor provision includes an extended EYFS playground. A nursery news account links that space to continuous provision, the opportunities for children to keep exploring and learning through play. Performance has also featured in early-years activities: an account of a Christmas production describes Butterfly Class taking part in Twinkle Twinkle and Ladybird Class performing the Nativity. These are examples of participation, rather than a fixed weekly timetable.

Settling begins with understanding the child. The nursery’s account of welcoming new children describes staff getting to know their interests, personalities and routines. The admissions process also involves parents and gives attention to easing children into school sensitively. Familiar routines therefore belong in the conversation from the outset.

Healthcare is provided by Sutton Health and Care. The school’s team includes nurses, healthcare assistants, physiotherapy and occupational therapy staff, with specialist speech and language support for eating and drinking. Healthcare plans and therapy programmes are developed with school staff and parents around children’s needs and EHCP outcomes.

Class Dojo carries everyday conversations between teaching staff and parents, including updates about eating, snacks and progress. MCAS handles wider information and absence reporting. Family Support Workers can also help with issues arising from a child’s special needs and liaison with agencies, giving parents another route for support beyond the classroom.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Nursery and Reception admission decisions must be treated separately; joining the nursery should not be taken as confirmation of the next placement.

Perseid’s route is through specialist placement arrangements. London Borough of Merton coordinates admissions, and an EHCP is required for every pupil. Once an EHCP is complete, the local authority consults schools about whether they can meet the child’s needs. Families should use that placement route for Reception rather than assume nursery attendance settles the decision.

Uniform is optional for EYFS nursery children, removing a compulsory clothing purchase from preparations. Informal school visits are welcomed before or during the EHCP process, and parents may bring professionals already involved with their child.

For general enquiries, contact office@perseid.merton.sch.uk or call 020 8648 9737. The administration team takes calls on weekdays between 8.30am and 4pm. Those are office contact hours. The school’s term calendar also identifies 1.30pm finishes at half-term and term endings, a practical detail for planning family arrangements.