The Orchard Nursery at The Coombes Church of England Primary School

An open-plan classroom, a spacious garden and woodland nearby give The Orchard Nursery its outdoor character. It sits within The Coombes Church of England Primary School in Arborfield, with play and exploration shaping its approach. The nursery aims to build curiosity, independence and confidence through opportunities to tackle challenges and play together.

Children can usually start in the term following their third birthday. Limited places are also offered in the term before children turn three. In July 2024, Ofsted judged the school's early years provision Good. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separate nursery inspection.

Play has a clear purpose here. Topic-linked activities and resources fill a bright, open-plan classroom, while the garden gives children space for practical Forest School exploration. Fields and woodland surround the setting. This gives outdoor learning a concrete place in the nursery experience, alongside classroom play.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) includes choosing time, when children select their own learning activities. For parents, that means children have opportunities to follow an interest rather than having every activity chosen for them. The nursery aims to use play to develop concentration and problem-solving, alongside learning to cooperate with other children.

In July 2024, early years teaching combined practical activities with outdoor exploration, and the curriculum was carefully organised and taught effectively. From Nursery onwards, learning followed a planned sequence, with attention to developing vocabulary. These are useful foundations for children learning to express ideas and take part in shared activities.

Early reading. The July 2024 findings also identified uneven teaching for children at the beginning of learning to read across the school, leaving some pupils slower to develop fluency. This is a relevant point for families to consider alongside the positive early years judgement.

Relationships support the start of nursery life. In July 2024, early years staff built close connections with children and helped them become familiar with routines promptly. For a child adjusting to time away from home, that combination of trusted adults and familiar routines matters.

Additional support sits within the school's SEND arrangements. Individualised Provision Plans identify actions tailored to a child's needs, are monitored by the class teacher and SENDCo, and are shared with parents. Support can include individual work or help from a teaching assistant in a small group. Speech and Language Therapists and Educational Psychologists are among the services the school works with, giving families routes to more specialised advice.

Lunch can be a Caterlink meal prepared in the on-site kitchen or a packed lunch from home. Nursery school meals carry a charge; contact the school for current charges. Packed lunches should exclude nuts, sweets, chocolate and fizzy or energy drinks. Under-fives are enrolled in Cool Milk free of charge.

Attending The Orchard Nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply separately through Wokingham Borough Council's school admissions route. Applications open in September and close around 15 January each year, so nursery attendance should not replace that application.

Registering a child's details on the council's Citizen Portal enables reminder emails about applying. Treat this as a separate step in planning what happens after nursery.

Visits to the nursery are welcomed. To apply, complete the nursery registration form and return it to the school office. General enquiries can go to admin@coombes.wokingham.sch.uk or 0118 976 0751.

Wraparound care. Sunflower Club serves Reception to Year 6. Families choosing nursery should therefore plan childcare around the nursery arrangement itself rather than assuming access to that club.