Sunshine Nursery at Rochford Primary and Nursery School

An enclosed garden, a book corner and a home corner give Sunshine Nursery a day built around exploration, stories and make-believe. It belongs to Rochford Primary and Nursery School, with admission from age three and capacity for 24 morning and 24 afternoon sessions. Those are session places, rather than a total of 48 children attending together.

The June 2026 Ofsted judgement for early years was Strong standard. This covers the school's early years provision, rather than a separate nursery inspection. Clear routines and staff who understand children's needs helped children settle rapidly and become confident.

Sessions combine time working individually, in smaller groups and with the whole nursery. Adult teaching sits alongside investigation and play. Planning follows children's interests and their next developmental steps, so activities have a purpose beyond keeping children occupied.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) connects learning to everyday experience: talking, relationships, movement, literacy, mathematics, understanding the world and creative expression. Children practise counting and sorting, recognise their names and experiment with making marks. Stories, singing and role-play develop language; construction materials and scissors give small hands practice for later writing.

Indoors, children can use puzzles, dressing-up clothes, sand and water, craft resources and the computing suite. The book corner provides space for shared stories, while the home corner gives children opportunities to act out familiar situations. Outside, the nursery has its own enclosed garden with equipment and a sheltered area. Children also use the school's hall, field and playgrounds, extending opportunities for movement beyond their nursery space.

In June 2026, early years staff used conversations during play and care routines to develop children's language, and adjusted activities in response to their progress. Outdoor learning helped children become more independent and judge risks. Further work focused on broadening learning across all areas and maintaining consistent teaching and interactions, especially for vulnerable children.

Settling begins before the first session. Nursery induction includes a teacher's home visit and meetings where families meet staff and explore the nursery. Children can settle gradually, with parents welcome to stay during the early days. This gives families time to share concerns and children time to become familiar with the adults caring for them.

The team includes a nursery lead, a nursery nurse and early years learning support staff. All nursery staff have paediatric first-aid training. Each child has a contact book for messages between home and nursery; parents can also discuss progress with staff and talk through their child's achievement records.

Snacks include crackers and fruit, with water and milk to drink. The optional lunch session includes a hot school meal. In June 2026, eating safely and managing personal hygiene were carefully supported, helping children learn everyday self-care.

For children with SEND, nursery staff monitor development alongside the Inclusion Team. Support follows an assess, plan, do and review cycle, involving parents and partner agencies where needed. Termly One Plan reviews give families a regular opportunity to discuss targets and progress.

Separate application. Attending Sunshine Nursery does not guarantee a Reception place or confer nursery-based priority. Families must apply again through their home local authority's coordinated admissions process. For the 2026–27 intake, the deadline was 15 January 2026; that date has passed.

Familiarity still has practical value once a place is allocated. During the preceding half-term, induction meetings help children get to know their teacher and routines, and children are invited to two sessions in their new classroom. These support the change of setting; they do not alter admission entitlement.

Monday-to-Friday bookings can be for mornings, 8:30am–11:30am, afternoons, 12:30pm–3:30pm, or a full day, 8:30am–3:30pm. The lunch hour between sessions is charged separately. Families using 30 funded hours can avoid the lunch charge by collecting at 11:30am and returning at 12:30pm.

Funding for three- and four-year-olds covers up to 15 hours weekly over 38 weeks, with up to 30 hours for eligible working families. Extended eligibility must be reconfirmed every three months. Funding starts in the funding period after the third birthday and excludes meals, snacks, consumables, additional hours and services. Contact the school for current charges.

Uniform is expected. Cars cannot enter the grounds except on official business, so plan collection and drop-off accordingly. Nursery enquiries can go to admin@rochford.essex.sch.uk or 01702 544 342; applications use the Sunshine Nursery form and require the child's full birth certificate.