The FMS Inspection Score is FindMySchool's proprietary analysis based on official Ofsted and ISI inspection reports. It converts ratings into a standardised 1–10 scale for fair comparison across all schools in England.
Disclaimer: The FMS Inspection Score is an independent analysis by FindMySchool. It is not endorsed by or affiliated with Ofsted or ISI. Always refer to the official Ofsted or ISI report for the full picture of a school’s inspection outcome.
Nursery at Darrick Wood Infant & Nursery 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Play leads the learning here, with shorter teaching sessions adding early reading, writing and maths to the mix. Darrick Wood’s nursery caters for children aged 3–4 and can accommodate 39 children per morning or afternoon session. It forms part of Darrick Wood Infant & Nursery School on Lovibonds Avenue in Orpington.
Qualified teachers run the nursery, and all nursery staff have Early Years qualifications. Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Outstanding at the inspection on 5 and 6 December 2023. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines learning to communicate, move and manage relationships with early literacy, maths, creative work and discovering the world. Here, play gives children opportunities to investigate unfamiliar situations and develop friendships. Shorter, more structured teaching sessions introduce reading, writing and mathematical ideas during the week. Exploration and direct teaching both have a place.
Language receives sustained attention. In December 2023, adults used activities throughout early years to extend children’s vocabulary and speech. Learning tasks were selected to practise specific knowledge and skills, giving the play a clear educational purpose.
Outdoor learning has concrete settings: nursery gardens and the school’s Forest School site, positioned behind the field. Nursery children explore minibeast habitats in the garden and Forest School, while Environment Week introduces reducing waste, reusing materials and recycling. A summer-term visit to a local farm extends that interest beyond the school grounds. These experiences connect learning about nature with things children can investigate for themselves.
Contact with families includes consultations, open sessions and weekly learning updates for each year group. Parents can raise concerns through the school’s open-door approach. That gives families ways to discuss both learning and worries, rather than relying on a single formal meeting.
For children needing additional help, the SENCO or Inclusion Lead meets parents after observations and assessments. Extra SEND support follows a Graduated Response: assess the need, plan support, put it into practice and review its effect. Families participate throughout the process, so support can respond to the child’s changing needs.
Medical support uses Individual Health Care Plans developed with families and health professionals, shared with relevant staff and reviewed at least termly. Lunch is an optional charged extra within the nursery’s funded offer; funded hours cannot depend on accepting additional charges.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply separately through the local authority’s coordinated process. For the 2026/2027 admissions cycle, applications went through Bromley Council and the deadline was 15 January. Nursery attendance was not an oversubscription priority in that cycle. Treat choosing the nursery and obtaining a school place as separate decisions.
Transition support serves a different purpose. Children can visit their next classroom and meet their next teacher. Where additional needs call for more preparation, transition meetings and individual programmes help staff and parents agree suitable arrangements. Familiarity supports the move; it does not determine admission.
Funded provision runs Monday to Friday for 38 weeks. The universal offer for children aged 3–4 is 15 hours weekly, with morning sessions from 08:45 to 11:45 or afternoons from 12:45 to 15:45. Eligible working families can take 30 hours across five days, from 08:45 to 14:45. These patterns give families a clear basis for planning collection and other childcare.
Session preferences are discussed at registration and accommodated where availability and staffing allow. Ask the school for current optional charges. Nursery enquiries can go to the main office on 01689 857278 or admin@darrickwood.cetrust.com. Prospective parent tours can be booked through Google Forms.
The nursery caters for children aged 3–4, with capacity for 39 children in each morning or afternoon session.
Morning sessions run from 08:45 to 11:45 and afternoon sessions from 12:45 to 15:45. Eligible working families can access the 30-hour pattern from 08:45 to 14:45, Monday to Friday over 38 weeks.
Play supports exploration and friendships, alongside shorter teaching sessions in early reading, writing and maths. Outdoor activities include investigating minibeast habitats in the garden and Forest School.
No. Parents must submit a separate application through the local authority. Nursery attendance was not a Reception priority in the 2026/2027 admissions cycle.
Contact the class teacher, SENCO or Inclusion Lead to arrange a discussion. Parents take part in assessments and support planning, with additional SEND provision reviewed through the Graduated Response.
