Lady Margaret Primary School Nursery Review

Coats hung up, photographs added to an attendance board and activities chosen independently: small routines give Lady Margaret's early years provision its character. Independence starts with practical tasks. The nursery belongs to Lady Margaret Primary School in Southall and admits children from the term after their third birthday. There are 78 places across two sessions, with 39 in each.

Ofsted's report dated 3 February 2026 judged the school's early years provision to be Strong standard. This judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.

Language runs through the learning. Across early years, adults introduce expressive vocabulary through songs, rhymes and stories, alongside activities that develop coordination and strengthen fingers. Story maps, focused vocabulary groups and rhyme sessions give children different ways to practise communicating. Foundational phonics starts in Nursery, so early work with sounds begins before the move into Reception.

The Early Years Foundation Stage brings together learning and development across different areas. Here, children take part in activities across all areas of learning each day. Choice sits alongside structure: the attendance board and coat routines give children manageable responsibilities, while planned activities provide the learning content. That combination matters for children learning both to join a group and to do things for themselves.

Beyond those routines, early years experiences include contact with pets, forest school visits and frequent visits from storytellers. These give children subjects to discuss and experiences to connect with their learning. Outdoor learning also appeared among the federation's improvement priorities for the academic year 2025-26, as an area to enrich further.

Settling begins before the first nursery session. Once a family accepts a place, parents can take part in workshops before their child starts and in stay and learn sessions. This gives families an introduction to nursery life before children begin attending. Across early years, staff know children well, relationships between adults and children are positive, and regular parent workshops support learning together.

For children with additional needs, the school's accessibility plan includes Makaton where needed and a Kaleidoscope room with visual timetables and resources for social communication or sensory needs. These are school provisions, rather than a description of a separate nursery support room. The plan also provides for referrals to speech and language, occupational therapy and physiotherapy services where required, with support shaped by professional advice.

Attending this nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet the deadline for their child's entry year. Applications go through eAdmissions, and Ealing Council allocates all Reception places. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as two separate decisions.

Morning sessions run from 8.30am to 11.30am; afternoon sessions run from 12.30pm to 3.30pm. An extended day runs from 8.30am to 3.30pm through purchased additional hours. Extended places are allocated in order of application and require a deposit, so families needing the longer day should consider that booking condition alongside the session times.

Children who qualify for 30-hour funding are also accepted. Contact the school for current charges for additional hours. Families can join an open day or arrange a visit through the school office, giving them a practical opportunity to consider the nursery before choosing a place. The office can be reached on 020 8566 6486 or at ladymargaretadmin@ealingbridges.org.uk.