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Nursery at Meadlands Primary School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
A sensory room, weekly Forest School and a class called Bee Hummingbirds give Meadlands’ nursery its own character. This is the preschool provision within Meadlands Primary School in Ham, with a choice of morning, afternoon or full-day attendance. Outdoor learning is part of the daily routine, rather than an occasional addition.
The school’s early years provision reached the Expected standard in the Ofsted report published on 28 April 2026. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.
Sessions combine group teaching with show-and-tell, a snack break and activities led by adults in smaller groups. Children also choose their own play. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together communication, relationships and physical development with early reading, maths, creative work and exploration of the world. Here, those areas meet in practical activities rather than staying separate.
Read Write Inc. introduces phonics through listening games, rhyme and sound discrimination, with initial letter sounds introduced as children become ready. Nursery children retell stories, experiment with making marks and count during play, including reciting numbers to 10. White Rose informs the maths approach, while the mud kitchen, sand pit and water tray provide ways to explore quantities and measurements. Helicopter Stories and Poetry Basket add spoken storytelling and performance poetry to the early years programme.
Outside, bikes and equipment for climbing and balance give children opportunities to practise larger movements. The wildlife area and activity centre extend the spaces for exploration; indoor and outdoor areas for mark making let early writing happen in different places. A member of the early years team has Forest School training, supporting weekly lessons for nursery children. The sensory room adds another distinct indoor space.
Conversation receives deliberate attention. In April 2026, children in early years willingly used full sentences and staff encouraged exchanges that went beyond a single answer. However, adults sometimes missed opportunities to demonstrate more ambitious words, restricting children’s chances to learn and use them. Consistent vocabulary modelling remains an improvement priority.
Settling begins with home visits, induction sessions and opportunities to stay and play. These give families and staff time to get acquainted before children take on a new routine. In April 2026, early years children settled well, with staff establishing reassuring relationships with children and their families.
Nursery staff are available for conversations about progress and wellbeing, alongside parent meetings each term and an annual written report. Learning Journals records photographs of learning, and observations help staff plan subsequent activities. Families can discuss additional needs with the SEND coordinator before their child starts. The April 2026 early years findings describe prompt identification of SEND and support that enables children to learn with their peers; statutory EYFS care requirements were met.
Fruit is provided at both morning and afternoon snack times. Full-day families can choose a hot lunch, with a voluntary contribution requested. The Mindfulness in Schools Project’s Dots programme also gives children ways to recognise emotions and respond to their feelings.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal admissions process. Meadlands follows Richmond’s procedures, with applications made through eAdmissions; the deadline for September 2027 entry is 15 January 2027.
Nursery and Reception children learn alongside one another as their classes work together. That contact can make the next classroom and its children more familiar. It is a transition practice, separate from the allocation of Reception places.
Morning sessions run from 08:30 to 11:30, afternoons from 12:30 to 15:30, and full days from 08:30 to 15:30. The funding model provides 15 hours each week, with eligible families able to use their 30-hour entitlement from September 2026. Additional hours are chargeable for families who do not qualify for that scheme; the lunch hour itself is free. Contact the school for current charges.
Nursery children can attend the breakfast club from 07:45 to 08:30, Monday to Friday, with nursery staff collecting them for class. Bookings are due by 10:00 on the preceding Friday, with advance payment through Parentmail. After-school nursery care from September 2026 is dependent on demand, so confirm that provision before building it into a working day.
Uniform is optional. Comfortable clothes suitable for messy play are welcome; bring outdoor clothing, wellington boots, overalls, a reading book and a named water bottle in a bag. Email office@meadlands.richmond.sch.uk to arrange a tour. Nursery applications use the school’s form, returned with a copy of the child’s birth certificate.
Choose mornings, 08:30 to 11:30; afternoons, 12:30 to 15:30; or full days, 08:30 to 15:30.
Yes. From September 2026, families eligible for the 30-hour scheme can use their whole entitlement at Meadlands. Additional hours are chargeable for families who do not qualify.
Home visits, induction sessions and stay-and-play opportunities introduce children and families to the setting. Parents can also speak directly with nursery staff about wellbeing and progress.
No. A separate Reception application is required through eAdmissions. For September 2027 entry, the closing date is 15 January 2027.
Uniform is optional, and comfortable clothes suitable for messy play are fine. Fruit is supplied during morning and afternoon sessions; children should bring a named water bottle and their outdoor kit.
