Holmesdale Community Infant School Nursery

A home corner, water play and stories give Holmesdale's nursery learning a practical starting point. Children practise conversation through pretend play, investigate quantities with cups and jugs, and build independence through everyday choices. Play has a clear purpose here.

The nursery belongs to Holmesdale Community Infant School on Alma Road in Reigate. For the 2025/2026 intake, children could be considered from the term following their third birthday, subject to an application and space. In April 2026, Ofsted judged the school's early years provision Strong standard. That judgement covers the early years together, rather than awarding the nursery a separate grade.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) connects children's care with their development and learning. At Holmesdale, that means combining language, physical development and learning about feelings with early reading, mathematics, creativity and discovering the world. Adult-organised activities sit alongside play that children choose themselves, inside and outdoors.

The home corner, shop and café make language useful: children can compose a shopping list, explore a menu or record a pretend phone message. Water play introduces questions about capacity, while dough, scissors and fastening clothes give small hands practice. Construction materials, music and storytelling provide other ways to experiment and express ideas. Outdoor activities include balancing, climbing and running; children need clothing suited to the weather each day.

Language teaching was a strength in April 2026. Adults introduced vocabulary deliberately, including words for comparing weight, and children used writing to make books and posters. These are tangible reasons to speak and write. Activities followed children's interests, helping them concentrate and participate both independently and alongside others.

In January 2026, planned nursery activities included making rockets from reused packaging and exploring Goldilocks and the Three Bears through retelling and porridge tasting. Share a Story also invited family members to bring familiar tales into the nursery, including stories in languages spoken at home. These examples connect making, conversation and family experience.

Adults' knowledge of individual children was a strength in April 2026. Staff helped children deal with emotions and disagreements, while additional needs were recognised promptly and discussed with families. Children with complex needs participated fully and progressed securely. Speech and language therapists also worked with staff and children, especially in the early years.

Teachers and learning assistants observe nursery children continually to understand their progress. Families receive a written report each year and have opportunities to discuss learning with the class teacher. Specialist advice, including educational psychology or Language and Learning support, is sought in consultation with parents. This gives families a role in decisions about additional help.

Bumblebees children can have paid school lunches; contact the school for current charges. Cool Milk requires parent registration and provides semi-skimmed cow's milk, with free milk continuing until the Friday preceding a child's fifth birthday. Allergy precautions extend to creative materials: January 2026 nursery instructions excluded egg boxes and cereal packaging and required yoghurt pots to be washed thoroughly.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal admissions process and meet the deadline for their child's intake.

For 2025/2026, nursery attendance conferred no Reception priority. Applications followed Surrey's coordinated primary admissions process, with the deadline for September 2025 entry falling on 15 January 2025. That was a past intake; families should follow the normal application timetable for their own year. Familiarity with the nursery must not be treated as an admissions advantage.

For 2025/2026, the nursery operated during school terms, offering 15 hours a week and limited 30-hour places. An additional 15 hours could be paid for or covered by eligible families' free entitlement. The school distinguished universal entitlement sessions from extended entitlement sessions.

Nursery applications go directly to the school. Enquiries can be made at info@holmesdale.surrey.sch.uk or by calling 01737 243678. School visits can be arranged by email. For illness, families use Studybugs; after vomiting or diarrhoea, children should remain home until symptom-free for 48 hours and well enough to return.