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Nursery at Icknield Walk First 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.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 purpose-built nursery building gives Icknield Walk’s youngest children their own base within the school grounds. This is teacher-led provision in Royston, with qualified support staff alongside the nursery teacher. Its character combines an educational focus with a choice of attendance patterns, allowing families to fit sessions around their week.
The usual intake is children turning four during the academic year starting in September. Younger children can join from the term following their third birthday if September places remain after the older intake. These Rising 3s stay until they reach Reception entry age, so some children have a longer nursery experience than others.
Play, small-group learning and teaching led by an adult share the curriculum. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), together with Development Matters, provides the framework: children practise communicating, moving, managing feelings and relationships, exploring their surroundings, creating, and developing early literacy and maths. The school describes an approach that follows children’s development rather than expecting everyone to move at the same speed.
Early reading starts with listening. Children learn rhymes and songs, building familiarity with sounds before tackling written words. Bug Club provides the school’s phonics sequence, with Letters and Sounds activities among its teaching approaches. For nursery children, the emphasis begins with hearing and recognising sounds, giving later reading a practical starting point.
In March 2025, Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good. Staff developed children’s communication and language successfully, while the learning environment encouraged interaction and social development. Children also understood routines and rules well. Those findings give substance to the balance between learning together and becoming more independent.
Curriculum consistency. Across the school, some subjects needed clearer content and sequencing, and misunderstandings were not always corrected accurately. These school-wide concerns matter alongside the positive early-years findings; they were not identified as nursery-only weaknesses.
A qualified teacher leads the nursery, supported by qualified staff. The curriculum is adapted for children with additional needs, helping them take part in learning rather than leaving access to chance. Families considering support needs can weigh that approach alongside the nursery’s mix of play, group learning and direct teaching.
Lunch offers a straightforward choice: children staying through midday may bring food from home or have a school meal for an additional charge. That makes the lunch session usable with either family-provided food or a meal prepared at school.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee admission to the main school. Families must make a separate Reception application through Hertfordshire County Council’s admissions system, using the county’s online form. If applications exceed places, the county’s admissions criteria apply. A nursery place and a Reception place are separate decisions.
Nursery parents receive reminders to apply again. For Rising 3s, continuing into a second nursery year concerns nursery attendance only; it should not be mistaken for a promise of Reception admission.
Morning sessions run from 8:30am to 11:30am, lunch from 11:30am to 12:30pm, and afternoons from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. Families can combine sessions across school days. Morning and afternoon bookings cover the complete three-hour session; lunch must accompany a morning, afternoon or all-day booking.
The school asks families to plan for at least 15 nursery hours. Once allocated, the pattern should remain for the term except in exceptional circumstances, with changes possible before the next term begins. Funded provision covers 15 hours, or 30 hours for eligible families; additional hours can also be purchased. Contact the school for current charges.
Drop-off is flexible between 8:30am and 9:00am, with afternoon collection between 3:00pm and 3:30pm to help families coordinating siblings’ school times. Nursery applications go directly to the school through an online form, and the office handles enquiries on 01763 243392.
The main intake is children who turn four during the academic year beginning in September. If places remain after the older intake, younger children may start in the term after their third birthday.
Yes. Morning, lunch and afternoon sessions can be combined across school days. The school asks families to keep their allocated pattern for a term, except in exceptional circumstances.
There are 15 hours of free provision, with 30 hours for eligible families. Extra hours can be purchased, and school meals carry an additional charge.
Children attending over lunch can bring a packed lunch or have a school meal for an additional charge. Lunch must be attached to a morning, afternoon or all-day booking.
No. Parents must apply separately through Hertfordshire County Council’s admissions system. The school sends reminders to nursery families.
