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Nursery at Headington Quarry 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
A mud kitchen, outdoor reading and fortnightly Forest School give Headington Quarry's nursery day a clear character: children have room to explore, with adults planning learning around their interests. This is a maintained nursery school in Headington, Oxford, with provision spanning ages 2 to 5. Rainbow Class offers funded provision for eligible two-year-olds; the nursery school provision admits children from the term following their third birthday.
Foundation Stage specialists include early years teachers and practitioners. Headington Quarry is federated with Wheatley Nursery School, sharing a headteacher and governing body. The emphasis here is on early childhood itself, with play, conversation and practical experiences shaping learning.
Children move between outdoor and indoor activities during sessions. Planned adult activities sit alongside play that follows children's interests, so there is both scope to choose and a deliberate next step in learning. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines physical development, communication and relationships with early reading, mathematics, creativity and understanding the world. Development Matters supports planning and assessment.
The spaces make that approach concrete. Children can build with blocks, investigate water and sand, make music or use the cooking and snack area. Books have places outside as well as indoors. Core stories, poems and songs provide recurring opportunities to listen, talk and explore ideas; activities are planned with individual interests in mind.
Forest School takes children to Holy Trinity vicarage woods fortnightly with a trained level 3 leader, beginning after they have settled. Welly Wednesdays also encourage close attention to the outdoor environment. These experiences extend learning beyond the nursery's own play spaces.
In July 2024, children explored capacity by predicting how much sand would fill a tray and then testing their ideas. Outdoor challenges included trikes and monkey bars, with adults helping children judge risks. Conversation was purposeful too: adults introduced vocabulary, asked questions and used pictures or gestures to help children communicate. Practical play had a clear learning purpose.
Each child has a key person, with the relationship beginning through a home visit. Parents contribute observations and discuss their child's interests and development, giving staff a fuller picture when planning activities. Class Dojo connects home and nursery through activity ideas and photographs of learning milestones.
Emotional support includes help from a trusted adult and time in a quieter space when a child needs to calm down. For children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), support includes individual targets, small groups and one-to-one work. Attention Autism develops attention through staged activities; sensory circuits and sensory cooking provide other ways to participate. A school cook and lunchtime supervisors form part of the support team.
In July 2024, home visits helped identify additional needs, and adapted learning enabled children to participate alongside friends. Safeguarding arrangements were effective at that inspection.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate primary school application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. The application is made in the academic year when the child turns 4, with Oxfordshire County Council sending application information during the autumn term.
A child's profile or report is passed to their next school or setting. Parents also receive an account of achievements and a learning journey. This shares information about the child's development; it does not secure admission.
The 15-hour pattern is either 8.30am to 11.30am or 12.30pm to 3.30pm. Government-funded places of 15 or 30 hours depend on the relevant criteria and an appropriate eligibility code. Nursery education places run during term time.
Daycare operates from 8am to 6pm, with flexible booking and paid breakfast care, after-school care or additional hours alongside a funded place. Holiday and INSET daycare caters for ages 3 to 8. Contact the school for current charges. To enquire or book a tour, telephone 01865 762345; enquiries can also go to office.1006@headington-nurs.oxon.sch.uk.
Provision spans ages 2 to 5, including Rainbow Class for eligible two-year-olds and nursery school places from the term after a child's third birthday.
The 15-hour patterns are 8.30am to 11.30am or 12.30pm to 3.30pm.
Yes. Paid daycare can supplement funded hours through breakfast care, after-school care and additional hours. Daycare operates from 8am to 6pm.
A key person begins the relationship with a home visit and shares observations with parents. Class Dojo provides home activity ideas and photographs of learning milestones.
No. Families need to apply separately for primary school through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. Information about the child's learning is shared with their next setting separately from admission.
