Nettlestone Primary School Pre-School Review

Cakes made for charity and sold in a class shop give Nettlestone’s pre-school a practical connection to the wider world. Children take part in something with a purpose: making a product and helping a cause. This is the nursery provision within Nettlestone Primary School, on Nettlestone Green in Seaview.

Early years provision was graded Good at the Ofsted inspection on 11 and 12 June 2024. That judgement covers the school’s early years, rather than a separately inspected nursery. There is an important qualification: some learning areas needed clearer decisions about what children should learn next.

Play and exploration shape the early years approach. The school describes learning that follows children’s interests, with adults observing what they do, assessing their development and planning the next steps. Open-ended materials and questions give children opportunities to try out ideas rather than work towards just one predetermined answer.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together language, movement and emotional development with early literacy, maths, understanding the world and creative expression. In parent terms, learning to communicate and manage feelings sits alongside beginning to use numbers and explore books. The pre-school’s learning characteristics emphasise curiosity through play, sustained involvement and thinking through ideas.

Nursery rhymes and stories introduce children to sounds from the start of pre-school. These are early encounters with the sounds of language, giving reading preparation a familiar, playful form. Opportunities to use emerging reading, writing and maths skills are also built into the early years learning environment, so children can apply them for a purpose.

Curriculum sequencing. In June 2024, some parts of the early years curriculum were insufficiently developed. Children’s knowledge and skills were therefore not building as effectively as they could. The required improvement was to specify the learning content and its order more precisely. This matters alongside the emphasis on children choosing and exploring: adult planning needs to make the next steps clear.

In June 2024, relationships between children and adults in early years were considerate and respectful, helping children feel secure. That is a meaningful foundation for children beginning group learning and developing confidence with adults beyond their family.

The school aims to adapt teaching to individual needs and increase participation for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Parents can contact the special educational needs coordinator through the school office by telephone or email. Safeguarding concerns can also be raised with the safeguarding leads through the office, identifying the concern as a safeguarding matter.

Attending the pre-school does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet the normal deadline. Treat the nursery choice and the Reception application as two separate decisions.

Pre-school hours run from 8.45am to 2.45pm. That gives families a clear start and finish around which to organise the day. The school office handles enquiries and requests to visit: call 01983 613171 or email admin@nettlestoneprimaryschool.co.uk.