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Nursery at Barley Lane 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Nursery rhymes, daily name-writing and samosa-making give Barley Lane’s nursery its own character within the primary school. In January 2026, children practised writing their names each day and created characters inspired by familiar rhymes. An October 2025 Diwali activity combined pattern-making with cooking. These are concrete examples of early learning through words, creativity and practical tasks.
The nursery forms part of the school’s Foundation Stage provision at Huxley Drive, Chadwell Heath. Its timetable separates morning and afternoon sessions, giving families two distinct parts of the day to plan around.
Language develops through play as well as direct practice. At the June 2025 inspection, early-years children used imaginative potion-making to try unfamiliar vocabulary and build more complex sentences. Nursery children also understood numbers up to five securely. The combination matters: children practise expressing ideas while developing their first number knowledge.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings learning into practical experiences. Music is woven into nursery topics, with counting songs linking singing to maths and songs from different cultures introducing children to the wider world. The early-years computing approach includes the Barefoot Computing Scheme, using projects to develop thinking and problem-solving skills.
Outdoor learning includes garden activities in wet weather. Foundation Stage children bring Wellington boots and a rain mac, so clothing is part of preparing for that learning. The January 2026 name-writing and rhyme-character work provides another example of how early writing and imaginative activity sit alongside each other.
Learning depth. The June 2025 inspection also identified a school-wide weakness: some tasks did too little to extend understanding of important concepts. This was a concern about activity selection across the school, rather than a separate nursery judgement.
The 2025–26 staffing structure includes a nursery teacher, a nursery nurse and an EYFS leader. Families therefore have a nursery team within the school’s wider early-years organisation.
For children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the school’s support arrangements include regular teacher checks and discussion with the SENCO. Speech and Language Therapists and Redbridge SEATSS contribute expertise to planning support. A small sensory room is among the school’s facilities; it should be understood as a school resource rather than a dedicated nursery room.
Welcome and transition visits support children with SEND and their parents when starting or leaving the school. These visits give families a practical way to prepare for a change of setting.
Attending Barley Lane’s nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the deadline for their child’s entry year.
For the September 2024 intake, applications were online through eAdmissions, with Redbridge providing the admissions guidance. That was a past admissions cycle. Keep the Reception application separate from nursery attendance when planning the next step.
Morning nursery runs from 08:45 to 11:45; the afternoon session runs from 12:30 to 15:30. These are the nursery times, so use them when organising drop-off and collection.
Contact the school office for nursery enquiries. Contact the office on 020 8590 8474 or email admin@barleylane.redbridge.sch.uk. A virtual tour also gives prospective families an introduction to the school.
The morning session is 08:45–11:45 and the afternoon session is 12:30–15:30.
No. Families must apply separately for Reception through the normal admissions process.
Examples include name-writing, creating nursery-rhyme characters, counting songs and making mini samosas for Diwali.
Foundation Stage children are required to bring Wellington boots and a rain mac.
Contact the school office on 020 8590 8474 or at admin@barleylane.redbridge.sch.uk.
