Darell Primary and Nursery School: Nursery Review

Stories about kindness give Darell’s early years a clear starting point: learning how to share matters alongside learning to read. The nursery takes children aged three and four within Darell Primary and Nursery School on Niton Road, Richmond. Its places are divided between 13 offering 15 hours each week and 13 offering 30 hours for eligible families. That gives parents a choice between shorter attendance and full days.

Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good following its inspection on 20 and 21 June 2023. This judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

A morning or afternoon session lasts three hours; full-day attendance runs from 8:45am to 3:15pm. Those patterns make the length of the child’s day an early practical decision for families.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the starting point for later learning across subjects. In June 2023, stories were used in early years to help children understand kindness and sharing, while phonics introduced the relationship between sounds and reading. Learning to get along and beginning to read sit alongside each other.

For home support, the nursery class page links to Let’s Count!, Let’s Write! and Let’s Talk!, as well as picture-book recommendations and ideas for developing fine and gross motor skills. These give parents specific starting points for supporting language, movement and early learning.

Curriculum development. In June 2023, some subject plans still lacked essential knowledge from early years onwards, leaving gaps in pupils’ understanding. Completing and embedding those plans was an improvement requirement, so the positive early years judgement needs that qualification.

Preparation for nursery centres on everyday independence. Families are encouraged to consider how their child manages separation, toileting, dressing and spending time with other children. Visits to libraries, playgroups, playgrounds and parks are recommended before starting. Parents with concerns can speak to the nursery team; questions about educational needs can go through the office to the Inclusion Manager.

The staffing list for 2025/26 includes a nursery teacher and a Level 3 EYFS practitioner within the early years team. For children needing additional support, the school’s SEND arrangements involve parents in planning and termly reviews. A home/school contact book can be used when agreed useful, giving families another way to share information.

Lunch club allows session children to stay from 11:45am to 12:15pm with a packed lunch, subject to space. In June 2023, age-appropriate teaching about consent and privacy began in early years, bringing personal safety into children’s learning.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal admissions route. The local authority’s criteria for September 2026 entry did not include nursery attendance, so attending Darell’s nursery conferred no priority under that cycle’s criteria.

For September 2026, the school directed families to eAdmissions and gave a deadline of 15 January 2026. That deadline has passed; it belongs to that entry year.

For children with SEND moving between classes, information and individual support plans are passed to the next teacher in advance. A planning meeting usually takes place, and a book explaining the change can be provided where helpful. This supports continuity of care, separately from admission decisions.

The 15-hour pattern can be taken as five half days or two and a half days. Morning sessions run from 8:45am to 11:45am; afternoons run from 12:15pm to 3:15pm. Eligible families can take the 30-hour pattern over five full days. The nursery times appear alongside the school’s term calendar, so families should plan around school holidays and inset closures.

Additional attendance. Fee-paying full-time places are offered subject to availability for families without a 30-hour code. For families eligible for that code, the lunch-club contribution is voluntary. Ask the school for current charges before booking additional attendance.

Enquiries can go through the Nursery Enquiry Form, which asks families to select AM, PM or all day, or through parents@darell.richmond.sch.uk and 0208 876 6721. Tours can be arranged through the office. Nearby roads have restricted parking space; the school encourages walking, cycling, scooting or public transport. Bus routes R68, 190 and 419 stop nearby on the A316, providing alternatives to driving.