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Nursery at Lakenham Primary 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Clay, construction kits and comfortable reading spaces give Lakenham’s nursery a clear character: children can follow an idea, make something and talk about it. This is provision for three- and four-year-olds within Lakenham Primary School on City Road in Norwich. Children can start once they have turned three.
Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Outstanding at the inspection on 14 and 15 May 2024. That judgement covers the early years within the school, rather than a separate nursery inspection. Classroom and outdoor learning were carefully matched to children’s needs, with staff checking their understanding before deciding what came next.
Sessions begin with settling and a circle-time greeting, followed by small-group learning. Children then choose activities indoors or outside, with a school-provided snack along the way. Tidying has its own place in the routine. Carpet time brings reflection or a maths enquiry before songs, stories and home time, giving children familiar points around which to organise their play.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together seven areas of learning and development. Here, observations, children’s views and family contributions help staff plan each child’s next steps. Continuous provision means resources and activity areas remain ready for children to explore; daily changes introduce opportunities linked to individual learning needs. Children can move between the outdoor provision and the classroom, allowing them to pursue an interest in either space.
Practical activity gives that approach substance. Knex and Lego support construction; clay, mud and playdough invite manipulation; scissors, woodworking tools and mark-making materials give hands different jobs. Crawling, balancing, climbing and jumping develop the physical strength needed for later writing. Books appear throughout the provision as well as in dedicated reading spaces, and stories are shared daily. FFT phonics is the named reading scheme. These are foundations built through movement, language and repeated experience.
Each child has a key person who supports their learning and care while building a relationship with the family. The nursery describes its team as highly qualified. For new families, settling includes a home visit, a school tour and opportunities to meet the staff team and SENDCo, helping adults discuss additional needs before the child begins.
Tapestry connects home and nursery: families can see observations, comment on them and contribute experiences from home. Regular stay-and-play cafes explore reading, maths, materials and the arts, giving parents opportunities to join the learning. Snacks are supplied during sessions.
Support for special educational needs and disabilities follows Assess, Plan, Do & Review, with families involved in monitoring development. Additional funding and outside-agency support can be sought with parental consent. This gives families a process for discussing concerns and reviewing what help their child needs.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Nursery and school admissions are separate, so families must apply again through Norfolk County Council’s normal admissions process by the normal deadline. Treat that application as a separate task even if your child already attends nursery.
Once a Reception place has been offered, transition opportunities include afternoons, parent meetings, home visits and participation in sports day. For children with SEND, preparation can include social stories, visits to the new classroom and information passed to new adults. Familiarisation supports the change; it does not secure admission.
Early education operates for 38 weeks each year. Funded provision can cover up to seven hours daily, Monday to Friday, between 8:30am and 3:30pm. The funding pattern divides this into morning, lunchtime and afternoon sessions. The nursery’s daily routine gives morning drop-off as 8:45–9am, with collection at 11:45am; afternoon drop-off is 12:30–12:45pm, ending at 3:30pm. The funded morning window begins earlier than that routine, a distinction to resolve when agreeing sessions.
Universal funding provides 15 hours, with a further 15 hours of working-parent entitlement funding available across sessions. Families complete a funding claim form; working-parent entitlement also requires a valid code. Funded-only families receive the same treatment as those buying additional hours. Wraparound care runs from 7:30am to 6pm. Contact the office on 01603 877780 or office@lakenhamprimary.org.uk for enquiries, waiting-list registration and current charges. School visits can be arranged in person or virtually.
Children can start after turning three. The nursery serves three- and four-year-olds.
Tapestry shares staff observations with families. Parents can comment and add learning or experiences from home.
No. A separate application is required through Norfolk County Council’s normal admissions process.
There are 15 hours of universal funding and 15 hours of working-parent entitlement funding. A funding claim form is required, together with a valid code for working-parent entitlement.
Yes. Nursery wraparound care runs from 7:30am to 6pm.
