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Nursery at The Winchcombe School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Chatterboxes, story sacks and Poetry Basket give Acorns a clear emphasis on talking, listening and sharing stories. This is The Winchcombe School’s own nursery class, also called Foundation Stage 1, for children aged three to four. Children can start in the term following their third birthday, with intakes at the start of each term.
Acorns sits within the school’s Foundation unit. Role play, creative activities and quiet spaces sit alongside large outdoor learning areas with secure boundaries, giving children places to explore and somewhere to pause. The Ofsted report dated 10 February 2026 judged early years to meet the Expected standard. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery.
Adult-guided activities and play chosen by children both feature in the day. Children pursue interests, tackle challenges and learn alongside one another. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework: here, learning brings together language, early literacy, mathematics and children’s social and emotional development rather than treating play as a break from teaching.
Conversation has concrete tools. Foundation Stage 1 uses Poetry Basket, Chatterboxes and story sacks, while Makaton accompanies stories and songs. Children identified as likely to benefit also receive the ECAT (Every Child A Talker) approach. These give adults several ways to encourage children to join in and express themselves.
The inspection report dated 10 February 2026 found that purposeful play prompted extended conversations and curiosity. A Valentine’s potion-making activity, for example, encouraged imaginative thinking and new vocabulary. Adults checked children’s development and adjusted teaching for individuals and the group. Indoors and outside, the organisation of the learning spaces supported exploration and independence: children could build confidence through doing things themselves.
Relationships and predictable routines help children settle. Nursery children were comfortable and confident, and staff worked with families to ease the start. Everyday care was sensitive, with children becoming better able to manage their feelings. Social and emotional development was a strength of early years provision.
Tapestry connects nursery learning with home through photographs, assessments, parent messages and Foundation newsletters. Families receive an email invitation to join after enrolment, giving them a way to follow their child’s experiences beyond collection time.
Foundation children receive fruit each day. The school excludes nuts, so food brought from home must follow that restriction. School meals are cooked on site in a purpose-built kitchen and served in a dining room; families should record dietary needs and allergies with the office. For additional needs, the school’s Inclusion Manager and SENCo can be contacted through the office, providing a route for discussing support.
Attending Acorns does not guarantee a place in The Winchcombe School’s Reception. Nursery admission and Reception admission are separate processes, so families must apply again through West Berkshire Admissions Team. The application deadline is 15 January in the year of admission.
A separate application. Choosing the nursery does not replace the Reception application. Keep that deadline in the family calendar even when your child is already attending Acorns.
Morning sessions run from 08:35 to 11:45; afternoon sessions run from 11:45 to 15:00. A combination of mornings and whole days can be offered, subject to availability. That condition matters when planning regular childcare around work.
The nursery offers the 30-hour extended childcare arrangement for families where both parents work and qualify. Extra sessions can also be purchased when space permits and the child’s 15-hour entitlement has already been used at Acorns. Contact the school for current charges.
To register interest, complete the Notification of Interest form and return it to office@winchcombe.w-berks.sch.uk. The office can also be reached on 01635 232780. Main gates open at 08:30, before Acorns opens at 08:35; nursery collection is at 15:00 for the afternoon session.
Children can join from the term after they turn three, with a new intake at the beginning of each term.
Mornings run from 08:35 to 11:45 and afternoons from 11:45 to 15:00. A mixture of mornings and whole days is possible subject to availability.
No. Families must make a separate application through West Berkshire Admissions Team by 15 January in the year of admission.
Tapestry carries photographs, assessments, messages and Foundation newsletters. Families are invited to join by email after their child enrols.
The nursery offers 30-hour extended childcare for qualifying families where both parents work. Paid extra sessions depend on availability and apply after the child’s 15-hour entitlement has been used at Acorns.
