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Nursery at Birkbeck 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Book corners, independent mark-making and forest school experiences give Birkbeck’s early years provision its character. Birch Class is the school’s nursery, with morning and afternoon groups on the Alma Road site in Sidcup. Provision starts from age three, placing children within the primary school’s early years structure.
Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Outstanding at the inspection on 13 and 14 December 2023. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.
Play supplies the starting point for learning. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together seven areas, with communication, physical development and personal relationships providing the foundations for literacy, mathematics, creativity and understanding the world. The first term begins with children and their families as its topic, giving new learners familiar material to talk about.
Indoor learning includes book corners and spaces for children to make marks and write independently. Stories, drama and role play develop language, while paintbrushes and digging tools give children practice in controlling smaller movements. Running, climbing and cycling address larger movements. These are practical ways to build both expression and coordination.
Outdoor experiences extend the learning through forest school visits and everyday exploration. Children investigate their surroundings, ask questions and experiment. The EYFS curriculum also names Read Write Inc for daily phonics, linking sounds with letters. Number work explores shapes, patterns and measurement alongside numbers, so early mathematics connects with things children can recognise and discuss.
In December 2023, children across early years stayed engaged with adult-planned activities for sustained periods. This gives useful context to the emphasis on purposeful play.
Birch’s morning and afternoon groups have a nursery class teacher. The staffing structure also includes an EYFS phase leader, a SENDCo and a family liaison officer, giving families distinct routes for learning, additional needs and family support.
Parents with concerns about special educational needs can meet the SENDCo. The school’s approach places most additional teaching with the class teacher, with individual or group help and external expertise used where appropriate. This makes discussion with the teaching team a practical starting point.
Food routines include daily fruit for Foundation Stage children through the National Fruit Scheme. Still water should come in a labelled bottle, and snacks must avoid nuts. Cool Milk is available across the school, with free milk for children under five. Ask the school about lunch arrangements for children staying for a longer day.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Birkbeck’s admission arrangements explicitly give no Reception priority for attending its nursery. Families must make a separate application through the normal admissions process.
For September 2026 entry, the application deadline was 15 January 2026. That cycle is past. The stated online route is eAdmissions, with paper forms obtainable from the local authority. Families living outside Bexley apply through their home local authority. Choose the nursery for its provision, while treating the later school application as a separate decision.
Sessions follow a fixed pattern: five mornings or five afternoons, with no mixing between the two. Morning hours are 8:45am to 11:45am; afternoons run from 12:25pm to 3:25pm. This suits a consistent weekly routine rather than changing session choices.
Longer days. Longer places are limited. Families with eligible 30-hour codes take priority over those wishing to pay to increase from 15 hours, with admissions criteria then applied. Eligible families must supply their code after receiving an offer. These places finish at 2:45pm, with a paid extension to 3:25pm. Children on 15-hour placements can also pay to extend from 11:45am until 3:25pm. Ask the school for current charges. Consumable products carry no additional charge.
Nursery enquiries can go to the School Admissions team on 020 8303 7777. General school contact is admin@birkbeck.bexley.sch.uk. Caseys Schoolwear in Blackfen supplies uniform, and the school’s uniform information includes a nursery list.
Holiday planning. The 2026–27 school calendar has a two-week October half-term, from 19 to 30 October 2026. Parents also need to plan collection journeys around restricted parking: the school car park is reserved for staff and agreed visitors, and adjacent Tudor Court cannot be used for school drop-offs or collections.
Morning sessions run from 8:45am to 11:45am, and afternoon sessions from 12:25pm to 3:25pm. Children attend five mornings or five afternoons; the patterns cannot be mixed.
Limited 30-hour places finish at 2:45pm, with a paid extension to 3:25pm. Children on 15-hour placements can pay to extend from 11:45am to 3:25pm. Contact the school for current charges.
No. Nursery attendance neither guarantees a place nor gives Reception priority under the admission arrangements. A separate application is required.
The EYFS curriculum includes stories, role play, mark-making, number and shape exploration, physical activities and outdoor investigation, including forest school experiences.
Parents can meet the SENDCo and use sendco@birkbeck.bexley.sch.uk to raise concerns.
