Priory School Nursery Review

Songs with signs give Priory’s nursery a distinctive starting point: children learn Makaton alongside familiar rhymes, helping them communicate as their language develops. Communication is a clear strength of the early years curriculum. That matters for children beginning to express their needs and join in with others.

The nursery belongs to Priory School on Orchard Avenue in Slough, where education starts at age three. Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good following its inspection on 12 and 13 November 2024. This is an early years judgement within the school inspection.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum gives communication and interaction a central role here. In November 2024, these skills were developing well across early years. Singing and signing provide a concrete example: Makaton gives children another way to communicate while spoken language develops. Familiar songs make that practice part of an activity children can share.

Practical exploration also has a place. During British Science Week 2023, nursery children each planted a sunflower seed and discussed the conditions it needed to grow. Watering and protection from cold became things to think about, connecting a hands-on task with an explanation of how plants develop.

Books have a named home in The Enchanted Library. A weekly timetabled slot gives every child the opportunity to visit, and its spaces include the Forest of Stories, an Arabian Nights tent and a Research Base. A reading pod and library garden add places to settle with a book. These give reading a physical setting beyond the classroom, with fiction, plays, poetry and non-fiction to explore.

Preparation begins before children start. In November 2024, early years staff worked with families and other professionals ahead of entry to arrange support for learning. Many children in early years had SEND or were learning English as an additional language, making that exchange of information especially relevant. Regular staff training supported their work with children.

For ongoing SEND discussions, families can contact the SENCO team through the school office or email SEN@prioryschool.com. The school’s support process includes Individual Provision Maps, review meetings and help with referrals and assessments. These provide practical points for parents to contribute to planning and revisit their child’s needs. Visual aids and Makaton are also used in the school’s inclusive communication approach.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process.

For the September 2026 intake, applications went through Slough Borough Council online, with a deadline of 15 January 2026. That cycle is now past. The published process says the school will contact families about its own admission forms once a place is offered. Keep the nursery application and the Reception application as two distinct steps in your planning.

Nursery applications for the 2026/27 academic year use the school’s nursery application form. Paper copies can be requested from office@prioryschool.com, and places depend on availability.

Funding follows two routes: the universal entitlement is 15 hours, while eligible families can access 30 hours after completing the eligibility check and returning the required form to school. The admissions page also links an extended-fees letter for the 2025/26 year. Refer to the school for current charges.

For enquiries, call 01628 600300 or email office@prioryschool.com. Telephone and email contact is recommended between 8am and 4:30pm. School tours can be booked through the admissions page, providing a practical way to arrange a visit.