Crawford Village Primary School Nursery Review

A shared early years classroom, daily outdoor learning and a garden for growing food give Crawford Village’s nursery its character. Nursery children belong to Oak & Acorns Class alongside Reception children, with a class teacher who leads EYFS and a teaching assistant. This is nursery life within the school, with older early years children sharing the learning environment.

Paid sessions normally begin in the term after a child’s third birthday, although places can sometimes be offered in the preceding term. The nursery’s emphasis is on learning through play, exploration and planned experiences, rather than treating every activity as a formal lesson.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) covers seven areas of development. Here, that means supporting friendships, feelings, conversation and movement alongside early literacy, maths, creativity and discovering how the world works. Stories and songs develop language; practical number activities introduce patterns and shapes. Role play, music and art give children other ways to express their ideas.

Indoor and outdoor learning areas are accessible daily, with activities arranged to extend children’s interests. Practical making has a clear place: children can construct models from loose parts, experiment with different ways of joining materials and adapt an idea when it does not work. Cooking experiences include mixing, pouring and stirring. These are opportunities to make decisions and explain them.

Nursery phonics starts with listening. Rhymes, singing and noticing sounds in words build awareness before children encounter some letter sounds when ready. The school uses Rocket Phonics, but the nursery emphasis remains on speaking, listening and sound awareness. That distinction helps parents understand what early reading preparation actually involves.

Movement includes PE on Tuesdays and Fridays, while threading, playdough and tweezers exercise smaller hand movements. Forest School brings den making, minibeast searches and natural art into the early years experience. A garden used by early years children sits within gardening provision that includes raised beds and a potting shed; harvested produce is used in cooking. Outdoor learning has practical purpose as well as space to explore.

At the December 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that early years children were developing positive learning habits and enjoying learning and playing together.

The class teacher is the first contact for concerns about additional needs, with the SENDCo coordinating individual provision. Support can involve a teacher or teaching assistant, and referrals to Speech and Language Therapy require parental consent. Parents of children with additional needs are invited to discuss progress at least once each term, alongside parents’ evenings. This gives families a regular opportunity to review support.

Medical needs are addressed through individual Health Care Plans developed with parents and the school nurse. Staff receive training for specific medical needs, and all staff have paediatric first aid training. The building has level access, with a ramp connecting the playground to the dining hall. EYFS lunch is at 11:45am, providing a fixed point in the day’s care routine.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet the relevant deadline; booking nursery sessions is a separate process managed by the school.

Sharing Oak & Acorns Class gives nursery children familiarity with the Reception learning environment. Transition sessions also allow pupils to spend time with their next class teacher. These arrangements concern familiarity and preparation, rather than entitlement to a place.

Nursery enquiries and bookings go through the school, using a nursery booking form. Visits can be arranged through the office on 01695 622333, giving families a chance to see the shared early years classroom before choosing provision.

Children attend in PE kit on Tuesdays and Fridays. Reading books and reading records should come to school each day, supporting the link between classroom learning and reading together at home. Contact the school for current charges.