Farnham Common Infant School Nursery Review

Woodland behind the school gives Acorn Pre-School a distinctive setting for early learning. An outdoor classroom and a fire circle make this more than a patch of grass: children have space for practical exploration alongside their classroom learning. Acorn is the nursery provision within Farnham Common Infant School. The Infant and Junior schools together form the Farnham Common Village Schools federation.

At the Ofsted inspection on 21 and 22 January 2025, early years provision received a Good judgement, and nursery children were found to be content and at ease. That judgement covers the school's early years provision. For a parent considering a first experience of education, the nursery-specific finding about children feeling settled is the more immediate reassurance.

Play is also a way for adults to understand each child's learning. Early years assessment involves observing children and joining their activities, with checks at entry and each half term. The EYFS, or Early Years Foundation Stage, encompasses communication, physical and personal development alongside early literacy, maths, creative expression and understanding the world. Parents receive feedback through consultation evenings and reports, connecting classroom play with their child's progress.

Language has a clear place in the learning. In January 2025, speaking and listening were priorities within early years, and children made good progress. Acorn subsequently participated in Little Link, a local authority trial developing language through whole-group work. Maths follows EYFS guidance on shapes, measures and number. The Creative Curriculum connects early years topic work with exploring the world and expressing ideas through art and design.

Forest School gives the week a different scale. Early years sessions run fortnightly, while outdoor teaching also forms part of the school's weekly planning. The woodland activities include making shelters, mixing potions and recognising wildlife. Children can investigate materials and living things through practical tasks, rather than relying solely on indoor activities. Forest School practitioners lead sessions, with an outdoor first-aider present.

Little Wandle LETTERS AND SOUNDS begins at Acorn. In January 2025, the school's new phonics approach, including nursery pre-phonics, was only beginning to take shape. The school needed to establish consistent delivery and strengthen checks on phonics learning. This is a useful distinction for families: the nursery's language work sits alongside a reading programme whose implementation required further work at that point.

Predictable routines helped children settle in January 2025, supported by clear expectations and close relationships. Everyday independence is part of the early years curriculum too, with activities addressing feeding, toileting and getting dressed. These are practical skills children can carry between home and nursery.

Class Dojo gives nursery parents a specific way to contribute: photographs of family occasions can become material for classroom conversation. Short messages can reach the class teacher, while sensitive concerns call for a discussion or meeting. Urgent collection messages go through the office.

Across the federation, SEND provision can involve classroom strategies, individual assistance or small-group work. Physical adaptations are also possible for children with disabilities. The SENDCo can be contacted through the Infant School office, providing a route for discussing an individual child's support.

Attending Acorn does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process. The school's admissions page directs applications for EYFS places to the Admissions Team at Buckinghamshire Council; families should follow that route and meet the normal application deadline.

Transition activities serve a different purpose from admissions. A July bulletin invited incoming Reception children to a Stay and Play session. That offered an opportunity to become familiar with the next stage, rather than an entitlement to a place.

Nursery uniform is optional, although most children wear it. Clothing needs a clear name label. For Forest School, waterproof trousers, a waterproof jacket and wellington boots support outdoor participation; warm clothes that can get muddy are part of the kit too.

For nursery enquiries, contact the Infant School office on 01753 645899 or FCISoffice@fcvs.co.uk. The Infant School contact page also has a question form. School tours can be booked through the offices, giving families a direct route to seeing the provision.