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Nursery at Riverside 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Structured play and individual learning profiles shape Riverside’s early years provision. This is the nursery within Riverside School, where the school aims to build learning around each child’s interests, strengths and needs. Children have a Happiness Passport covering their support needs and a Unique Profile recording their learning development.
Riverside describes its curriculum as centred on The Pursuit of Happiness. Its stated priorities include wellbeing, fulfilment and belonging, giving families a clear picture of the thinking behind the learning programme.
Play has a planned purpose here. The early years phase uses a structured approach to learning through play, within a curriculum personalised for each pupil. Rather than treating a shared programme as the starting point for everyone, Riverside aims to shape learning around the child. For parents, that means individual interests and needs guide the learning priorities.
Nursery children receive a Unique Profile linked to Development Matters, covering seven learning areas and three areas concerned with how children learn. This helps staff understand each child before writing Personalised Learning Plans when they become full-time Reception pupils. Riverside works with families and therapists to identify skills that matter across a child’s life, with the aim of helping children use those skills beyond school too.
Development Matters gives the learning concrete content: children work on emotions and relationships, physical skills, reading and writing, maths, exploring the world, and creative expression. Planned activities often lead into freer play, with repetition giving children time to practise skills. Culture and the arts form part of every phase.
The Happiness Passport brings practical care information together. It covers communication, medical and physical needs, sensory needs, emotional wellbeing and regulation, as well as culture and engagement. That gives the team a shared reference for how to support each child’s participation in school life.
Families also have a role in shaping the curriculum, alongside pupils and colleagues from different agencies. Working with families and therapists helps identify learning priorities that matter beyond the classroom.
For health advice, families can telephone the school nurses on 01689 879197. If a child becomes ill or has an accident at school, staff contact the family and may ask them to collect their child. Emergency hospital care follows the child’s medical contact forms. These are school-wide arrangements that give nursery families a practical point of contact when health concerns arise.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply separately for Reception through the applicable local authority process. Riverside’s admissions are handled by the local authority, so families should follow that route for the next stage rather than assume that nursery attendance settles admission.
General enquiries can go to admin@riverside.bromley.sch.uk or the St Paul’s Cray office on 01689 870519. The office address is Main Road, St Paul’s Cray, BR5 3HS.
The School News App provides events, news and mobile alerts, giving families another way to keep up with school communications. Push notifications need to be enabled to receive updates.
If your child is absent, telephone the school before 8:15am that morning and give the reason. For an absence lasting more than one day, contact the office again on the third day with an update and expected return date.
The early years phase uses structured learning through play, within Riverside’s personalised curriculum.
It brings together information about a child’s sensory, physical, medical, communication and wellbeing needs, alongside other information that helps staff support participation.
Families help shape the curriculum alongside pupils and multi-agency colleagues. They work with staff and therapists to identify important skills and support their use beyond school.
No. Reception requires a separate application through the applicable local authority process. All Riverside admissions are made through the local authority.
Email admin@riverside.bromley.sch.uk or telephone the St Paul’s Cray office on 01689 870519. Families can contact the school nurses for health advice on 01689 879197.
