The Russell School Nursery

A six-hour nursery day gives The Russell School's youngest children a substantial stretch of time together: provision runs from 9:00am to 3:00pm, Monday to Friday. This is the nursery class within the school in Chorleywood, with free nursery education beginning in the September following a child's third birthday.

Early years provision received an Outstanding judgement at the Ofsted inspection on 24 and 25 September 2024. That judgement covers the school's early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery. For parents, the useful detail lies in the findings about early reading and children becoming accustomed to routines.

Early reading has a clear place in children's learning. In September 2024, children across early years began reading at an early stage, gaining familiarity with phonics and putting that knowledge into practice. Their growing vocabulary accompanied the development of reading fluency. This gives families a concrete sense of the learning emphasis: early encounters with reading involve practising skills as well as encountering new words.

Learning also has a planned sequence. From early years, the knowledge and skills children are to learn are defined precisely. For a parent weighing up a school nursery, that means the educational direction begins before the later school years. The reading work forms part of that planned learning, rather than standing apart from it.

Settling into routines was a strength in early years in September 2024: children became accustomed to what was expected quickly. The practical significance is straightforward. Learning the pattern of the day helps children understand what happens next and what adults expect of them.

The finding concerns adjustment to daily routines. It gives parents a useful picture of children's experience of settling, alongside the early reading emphasis, while keeping the focus on the youngest children.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process, so choosing this nursery should be a decision about the nursery experience itself.

For the September 2026 Reception intake, applications went through Hertfordshire Admissions, with a deadline of 15 January 2026. That deadline has passed. Nursery applications for that cycle went directly to the school, illustrating the distinction between the two application routes. Families need to treat the next school place as a separate decision and application, even when their child already attends the nursery.

The weekday pattern provides 30 hours of nursery provision. Free nursery education covers 15 hours a week from the September after a child's third birthday. An extra 15 funded hours depends on working families meeting the eligibility conditions; qualifying families may therefore receive 30 funded hours each week. The distinction matters when matching the nursery day to a family's funded entitlement.

Contact the school office on 01923 284272 or email admin@russell.herts.sch.uk for nursery enquiries. Visits require booking through the office, and families unable to attend a scheduled date can contact the school to arrange an alternative visit. Booking is part of planning the visit: walk-ins are not accepted.