Alfred Sutton Primary School Nursery Review

Play indoors and out gives Alfred Sutton’s nursery its shape: children explore, try ideas and learn alongside others, with activities adapted to their individual needs. Two nursery classes form part of the school’s early years provision at Wokingham Road in Reading. Funded places begin in the term following a child’s third birthday.

The choice includes morning or afternoon sessions and longer days, so families can choose between a shorter nursery session and provision spanning lunchtime. Eligibility matters for the funded longer day; paid places have limited availability.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the curriculum framework, with Development Matters also informing the planning. In parent language, this means learning to communicate, manage feelings and move confidently alongside early reading, maths, creative work and discovering how the world works. Children’s interests help shape the activities. Play is the main vehicle for learning.

Indoor and outdoor opportunities give children space to explore and practise independence. In October 2023, Ofsted described early years children using the outdoor area beneath the London plane tree to recount familiar stories, developing their vocabulary and confidence. Sharing and waiting for a turn are part of the learning too. These are useful foundations for playing and talking with other children.

Early years teaching also included phonics practice and organised activities exploring shapes and numbers. The October 2023 findings linked this maths teaching with children rapidly gaining confidence and fluency. Alongside those strengths, the school’s wider curriculum needed more precise content and checks on learning in some subjects. That concern applied across the school, rather than being identified as a nursery-specific weakness.

Individual needs influence the early years activities and support children receive. For families considering specialist provision, Daffodil Class is the school’s resource base. Potential nursery entrants are considered individually against its criteria; it is not taking open admissions, and a referral can be declined if the provision cannot meet a child’s needs. This requires a separate discussion with the inclusion team.

Milk is provided for nursery children, and the Foundation Stage snack is a daily piece of fruit or vegetable. Parents supply a packed lunch for children using Lunch Club. Food brought into school must contain no nuts, and children should bring a labelled bottle containing water only. These rules matter when preparing the nursery bag and lunch.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal Reception admissions process; Alfred Sutton’s Reception admissions are managed by Brighter Futures for Children. Choosing a nursery session and applying for school are separate decisions. Keep both applications in your family’s plans.

Morning sessions run from 8.40am to 11.40am, with afternoons from 12.20pm to 3.20pm, Monday to Friday. Eligible families can take a funded 30-hour place from 8.40am to 2.40pm on weekdays during term time. Stay & Play + extends that session until 3.20pm, with a daily charge invoiced in advance each term.

Paid longer-day places run from 8.40am to 3.15pm, Monday to Friday, with limited availability. Ask the school for current charges. The school follows Reading Borough Council’s term dates but sets its own INSET days, when children do not attend.

Applications can be made through the nursery admissions page or on a paper form from the office. For enquiries, email asps-admin@eastreadingfederation.co.uk or call 0118 9375411; school tours can also be arranged through the office. Wokingham Road and Crescent Road provide access to the site, and the car park is reserved for staff. Plan the journey accordingly.