Oundle Church of England Primary School Nursery Review

Forest School and the Messy Outdoor Kitchen area give Oundle’s pre-school a practical, outdoors-facing character. Based inside the main school building, the provision forms part of the school’s Early Years Foundation Stage unit, placing nursery life within the primary school rather than on a separate site.

The pre-school offers places using either 15 or 30 hours of provision. Its funded offer covers children aged three and four. The nursery says it wants children to develop their own interests and build relationships through play, with parents involved in supporting that development.

Indoor and outdoor play shapes the nursery’s approach to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). In parent terms, the emphasis here is on exploring, tackling problems and learning to play alongside other children. The nursery sees these experiences as ways to develop confidence as well as skills. Children’s interests help guide that approach.

The physical offer extends beyond the nursery room. Alongside Forest School and the Messy Outdoor Kitchen area, pre-school children have access to the School Field and Hall. That gives the provision several different spaces for activity, from outdoor exploration to time inside a larger shared school space.

Shared gardening, tea parties and story sessions are anticipated activities with the wider early years unit. These are plans rather than a fixed timetable. Their appeal is straightforward: younger children can share experiences with the wider unit while retaining a nursery day centred on play.

Working with parents is part of the nursery’s stated approach to understanding children and supporting their development. It aims for children to feel cared for and safe, and to have opportunities to pursue their interests.

For families with concerns about special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), the school’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator welcomes early contact. A meeting can be requested through the office, giving parents a direct route to discuss their child’s needs. At school level, support follows an Assess, Plan, Do, Review cycle, with parents involved in planning and reviewing help. The school also has a Sensory Room; this is a school facility rather than a named nursery room.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the local authority where they live, with a deadline of 15th January. For residents of North Northamptonshire, that route is North Northamptonshire Council. Choosing the nursery therefore leaves a separate school application to complete.

Morning sessions run from 8:30 to 11:30, afternoons from 12:15 to 3:15, and the full day from 8:30 to 3:15. The full-day pattern includes an additional charge for time outside the funded allocation; contact the school for current charges.

The funded offer is 15 hours each week for three- and four-year-olds, with eligible working parents able to receive up to 30 hours over 38 weeks. To register interest, email preschool@oundle.pdet.org.uk for the waiting list. School viewings can be arranged through that email address or by calling 01832 272392.