Phillimore Community Primary School Nursery Review

Water, mud and dough give Phillimore’s nursery a hands-on character, alongside early phonics and topics about people and the world. This is Foundation Stage 1 (FS1), the nursery within Phillimore Community Primary School, with capacity for a total of 78 children across its attendance patterns. Provision is for three and four year olds, with government-funded places only.

Early years provision was judged Good at the Ofsted inspection on 22 and 23 February 2023. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery. The balance matters: children enjoyed supportive care, but nursery curriculum planning needed greater precision.

Play gives children room to follow their interests. Classrooms allow them to choose resources and move between activities, while adults use questions to extend their thinking. Outdoor areas and materials such as dough, water and mud add opportunities to explore textures and experiment beyond paper and pencils.

Development Matters guides the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum. In parent language, this combines learning to communicate, manage feelings and move confidently with early reading, number work, creative expression and discovering the world. Topics change each term, drawing on books, trips and children’s interests. The Global Curriculum brings Human Rights, Sustainable Development and Identity and Diversity into early years learning, giving these topics a connection to citizenship.

Phonics begins in Nursery through Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised. Families are encouraged to spend five minutes daily with reading books and key words at home, creating a small, repeatable link between nursery learning and family time.

Learning intentions. In February 2023, staff developed vocabulary through considered interactions, but planning did not consistently specify the knowledge children should gain or its sequence, especially in Nursery. This left gaps in learning. Clearer purposes for activities and better preparation for the next stage were required, making the learning behind the play an important consideration for families.

Settling starts before the full attendance pattern begins: pre-visits are agreed once a place has been allocated. That gives a child an introduction to the setting before taking up all their sessions. In February 2023, early years children were happy and secure, and generally got along during play.

Parents receive regular updates on development and can contribute their own observations. Phonics demonstrations and Early Readers workshops provide practical ways to join in. Across the school, ClassDojo enables messages in both directions between families and staff.

Support for additional needs includes early speech and language screening for all EYFS children. The school works with the Early Years Inclusion Service and Speech and Language Therapy; SEND plans are discussed with parents at least once per term. The premises are predominantly on one level, with entrance ramps and a toilet, shower and changing facilities for disabled users. These arrangements connect assessment, family discussion and physical access.

Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Nursery and Reception admissions are separate: families must apply again through the normal Reception process and meet its deadline. Treat the nursery choice and the later school application as two decisions.

For children with SEND moving between classes, staff pass information and support documents to the next teacher. Additional visits and activities can be arranged where needed. This is preparation for a change of class, rather than an admissions advantage.

Morning sessions run from 8:30am to 11:30am; afternoons are 12:15pm to 3:15pm. A full day runs from 8:30am to 3:15pm. The 15-hour pattern can comprise five mornings, five afternoons or two full days. Eligible families using the 30-hour working parent entitlement can choose daily attendance, or three or four full days instead.

Parents apply for working parent funding themselves, supply the eligibility code and renew it each term. A Free Early Learning (FEL) agreement must be signed before admission. Once signed, four weeks’ notice normally applies to changing hours or leaving, although this may be waived if the chosen hours prove unsuitable during transition.

Complete a nursery place request form at the school office to enquire. Visits with your child can also be arranged through the office. Places cannot be reserved ahead and there is no waiting list, so planning depends on a place being allocated.