Oakmere Primary School Nursery Review

Acorns has its own classroom, with opportunities to play alongside older early-years children: a small-child base within Oakmere Primary School in Potters Bar. The nursery takes children from 3 years old and follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Oakmere describes its intended nursery atmosphere as relaxed and domestic in feel, with children’s interests helping to shape learning.

Early years provision was graded Good at the Ofsted inspection on 8 and 9 October 2024. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Play does much of the teaching here. Children choose resources for themselves indoors and outside. Oakmere aims to balance adult-led activities with those children initiate. The nursery’s separate classroom also accommodates directed learning, including phonics. This gives children both space to make decisions and time for teaching with a clear focus.

The EYFS connects learning with everyday development. Conversation, managing feelings and physical skills form the initial priorities; reading and writing, mathematical ideas, creativity and exploring the world build on these. Role-play, music, movement and making things are among the activities described within this approach. Half-term themes sit alongside children’s interests, giving learning a shared direction while leaving room for individual curiosity.

There is outdoor substance too. The EYFS children used the forest area for activities developing larger movements in autumn 2024, alongside classroom work on finer hand skills. Their learning included seasonal changes and the origins of fruit and vegetables. These are practical subjects children can investigate through observation.

In October 2024, early-years children were developing reading through revisiting sounds and practising how to combine them. However, some curriculum areas needed clearer detail about the knowledge children should retain. This left staff less certain about the intended learning and limited how effectively they could help children secure it. That is a material consideration alongside the Good judgement.

Settling begins with relationships. In autumn 2024, staff made home visits to EYFS families before children began classroom life. Activities then explored feelings, new surroundings and friendships. Early-years routines were established by October 2024, helping children understand expectations.

Parents and carers are invited to coffee mornings covering subjects such as maths, writing and phonics, with topics chosen around the cohort’s needs. For concerns about learning or disability, the class teacher is the first contact and discusses next steps with the Inclusion team. Across the school, therapeutic support workers contribute to children’s emotional support, and external advisers help with adjustments.

Lunch arrangements. Nursery lunchtime care does not include food, so families need to provide lunch. The school’s packed-lunch rules exclude nuts, sesame seeds and glass containers. Dietary needs can be discussed with the school, which works with its caterers on special diets.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee an Oakmere Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through Hertfordshire’s online admissions service and meet the deadline for their entry year. For September 2026 entry, the deadline was 15 January 2026; that application cycle has passed.

Familiarity is a separate benefit. Nursery children have opportunities to join Reception children during play they initiate themselves, supporting social interaction and communication. Sharing activities does not replace the Reception application process.

Morning nursery runs from 9am to noon, Lunch Club from noon to 1pm, and the afternoon session from 1pm to 3pm. Morning provision forms part of 15 funded hours. Working parents with a 30-hour code can use the all-day arrangement without an additional attendance charge. Lunchtime extension and afternoon attendance also have charged options; contact the school for current charges.

Nursery applications go directly to the school using a downloaded form or one collected from the office. Visits can be arranged through the office on 01707 656963. Nursery uniform includes black tracksuit trousers, a white polo shirt and a red cardigan or sweatshirt; logos are optional on the tops.

A responsible adult must remain with Foundation Stage children until the teacher takes over. Tell the office by telephone or email if someone different will collect your child, so staff have the necessary authorisation.