Wellow Primary School Nursery Review

A woodland glade and play that moves between classroom and outdoors give Wellow Preschool its character. This is Wellow Primary School’s own provision on the school site, welcoming children from their second birthday. Its classroom connects directly to an outdoor play space, while access to the wider grounds adds room to explore beyond it.

Two day lengths offer different ways to fit preschool around family life. The school recommends attending at least two sessions each week, aiming to help children settle and keep their experience consistent.

Play has distinct spaces here. Children can use the role-play zone, explore paint and messy materials, or spend time with books in the book corner. Small-world play has its own area, and a large carpet accommodates building activities, toy trains and cars. These spaces give children different starting points for play, from creating imagined situations to assembling something on a larger scale.

Outside, sand and water provide materials to investigate. Bikes, trikes and larger construction activities use the playground, and children can move between the adjoining outdoor area and classroom during play. The woodland glade extends the possibilities for exploring the natural world.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) connects learning about the world with language and mathematics. Wellow’s early-years geography approach includes describing nearby surroundings, sharing observations and exploring simple maps. In November 2023, Ofsted found that learning planned from early years, including preschool, prepared children well for subsequent learning; children also began developing the vocabulary needed to discuss mathematics.

Settling starts with time together. Before a child begins, the early-years teacher arranges a meeting or visit, usually at school, so parents can ask questions and share information about their child. Taster sessions allow parents to stay with their child and become familiar with the people and routines. That gives families a practical introduction before the start date.

For two-year-olds, staffing operates at one adult to four children. The preschool team includes a teacher lead, assistant leaders, practitioners and an administrator, with a Forest School leadership role among the assistant leaders.

An important caution comes from the November 2023 inspection: across the school, some activities and adjustments, including those for pupils with SEND, did not match the intended learning closely enough. This was a school-wide concern, rather than a separate nursery judgement, and makes the match between activities and an individual child’s needs a useful focus for discussions.

Preschool attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Hampshire County Council’s online portal. For September 2027 entry, the deadline is midnight on 15 January 2027.

There is a specific admissions advantage for that cycle: out-of-catchment children registered with and attending the school’s preschool receive seventh-category priority, ahead of other children. The school must confirm both registration and attendance. Higher categories still come first, so this priority should not be treated as an assured place.

Transition support is a separate matter. Children joining Reception have story-time sessions and a classroom visit, while parents are invited to an information evening. Early-years staff also visit homes and preschool settings where possible; children with identified SEND are encouraged to make additional visits.

The Short Day runs from 8.30am to 4pm; the Long Day extends from 8am to 6pm. Begin with the preschool’s online enquiry form to discuss preferred days and times, then arrange a visit. Registration and a start-date discussion follow the decision to join.

From the term after a child’s third birthday, 15 hours of early-years funding apply during school terms; working parents may qualify for 30 hours. Each session must be covered entirely by funded hours or entirely by private payment or childcare vouchers. A session cannot mix the two. Ask the school for current charges. Requests to alter booked hours use a change-of-hours form and depend on whether the change can be accommodated.