Churchend Primary Academy Nursery Review

A gradual start is a defining practical feature of Churchend’s early years provision: home visits and shorter visits preceded normal hours in September 2026. Its nursery belongs to Churchend Primary Academy in Tilehurst, Reading, with 28 places across the class. Children may join in the term following their third birthday, and both part-time and full-time places are offered.

The early years judgement needs attention. Ofsted rated early years provision Requires improvement following its inspection on 6 and 7 December 2022. That judgement concerns early years within the academy, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

The important distinction here is between the intended learning and the activities children experience. In December 2022, leaders had thought through the knowledge and experiences children needed, but the activities did not consistently serve those intentions. Children’s attention was not always maintained, and opportunities to revisit learning and develop it further were insufficient.

Teaching was another concern. Some teachers needed greater subject expertise to deliver the new curriculum consistently, including in early years. Leaders were working with external consultants on the early years provision. For parents, these findings make the connection between an activity and its learning purpose a central consideration: keeping children occupied is only part of the nursery day. Time to return to an idea and extend it matters too.

Relationships were a more positive part of the December 2022 picture. Children adjusted promptly to early years, and connections between children and adults were strong. That offers a useful counterpoint to the curriculum concerns: settling and learning were different parts of the experience, with different findings.

September 2026 had a staged early years start. Home visits took place on 2 and 3 September, followed by half-day visits on 4 and 7 September; normal hours began on 8 September. These were early years arrangements, rather than a nursery-only timetable.

Across the academy, learning is adapted when individual needs require it. The school aims to include each child, giving families a basis for discussing how their child’s needs fit into everyday learning.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process. Reading Borough Council administers Reception admissions and applies the academy’s oversubscription criteria when applications exceed places.

The nursery and Reception therefore involve separate decisions. Choosing this nursery should rest on the early years experience itself, rather than an expectation that attending settles the next admission.

The booking model includes morning and afternoon places, each providing 15 hours a week. Applications for a 30-hour place require the entitlement code to accompany them. This gives families distinct attendance options, with the code requirement attached specifically to the longer provision.

Churchend handles nursery admissions itself. A nursery waiting-list application can be made once a child is two. Enquiries go to the academy office at admin@churchendacademy.com or on 0118 937 5450; the school is on Usk Road, Tilehurst, Reading, RG30 4HP. These are the direct contact routes for starting the nursery application process.