Kenningtons Primary Academy Nursery Review

Books, conversation and garden play give Kenningtons’ nursery its character. Children can join from the term following their third birthday, beginning their education within the primary academy in Aveley. Messy activities are part of nursery life, and children bring wellies to keep there for outdoor use.

At the inspection on 11 and 12 February 2025, Ofsted graded the academy’s early years provision Outstanding. That judgement covers early years across the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery. The nursery team includes an EYFS teacher and EYFS teaching assistants.

Communication and language lead the learning. Children encounter books, take part in activities guided by adults, and have opportunities to explore and practise their learning through the environment. This gives a session both direction and room for children to try things themselves.

The curriculum follows the Early Years Foundation Stage framework. In practical terms here, adults identify what children need to learn, plan activities around that knowledge and check their understanding as they go. In February 2025, early years children made excellent progress, with additional help for those needing support to keep pace.

Outdoor learning has a practical foothold in nursery garden activities. The wider school site also contains allotments, a woodland area, a nature garden and an animal zone housing chickens. These are concrete features of the academy’s grounds, rather than a promise of a particular nursery timetable.

Thurrock Trailblazer adds a named experience for EYFS: Roll Up, Roll Up combines a circus performance with a workshop in which children can try performing themselves. It brings participation alongside watching.

ParentMail carries termly learning overviews for nursery families, alongside school communications and event invitations. This gives parents a way to follow the learning beyond the session. Families who need help using ParentMail can receive support through the school office.

For additional needs, the school has a SEND coordinator and directs families towards Thurrock PATT SENDIASS and the Thurrock SEND Local Offer. These provide routes to advice about education and local support. Within early years, adults check children’s learning and help those who need extra support.

School dinners are prepared on the premises, with menus changing on a three-week cycle. The school’s lunch arrangements include a packed lunch, a cooked dinner or going home to eat. These are school-wide arrangements; they do not establish a nursery lunch booking entitlement.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application to Thurrock Admissions, either online or by post. Treat this as another application, rather than an automatic continuation of the nursery place.

Applications usually begin in October before the intended starting year, with a January closing date; offers usually arrive in April. Keeping that separate timetable in mind matters even when a child already attends Kenningtons’ nursery.

Morning nursery runs from 8:45am to 11:45am, and the afternoon session from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. The nursery also operates from 8:45am until 3:30pm, offering 30-hour provision for eligible families or a paid place. Contact the school for current charges.

Nursery application forms are collected from the school office. Open days are arranged for families wanting to look around. For enquiries, telephone 01708 865663. The nursery clothing options include navy tracksuit bottoms, a white polo shirt and a navy jumper or cardigan, providing practical clothes for messy activities.