Rosewood Free School Nursery Review

A switch, a movement or a preference can shape learning at Rosewood's nursery. Communication and helping children influence their surroundings are central to its early years approach, with technology and adult responses giving children different ways to express themselves.

Children can join from age two. The nursery belongs to a specialist school serving children with profound and multiple learning difficulties, or severe learning difficulties alongside physical or medical needs. Its two nursery classes are Butterflies and Bumblebees, although class organisation can change according to children's needs. Typically, a class has 6–7 learners supported by 4–6 adults, including a teacher. That gives a concrete sense of the scale of each group.

Play follows the principles of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), with learning adapted to each child's abilities. Rosewood uses ImPACTs assessments in early years to identify those abilities and plan individual learning. Communication receives close attention: adults observe children and respond to them, while musical interaction is another focus of development.

Switches, touch-sensitive screens and an interactive magic carpet help children affect what happens around them. Preferences matter too. Responding to a child's likes and dislikes makes communication part of an activity, rather than something reserved for a separate lesson.

Specialist spaces add different sensory and physical experiences. Early years children regularly use the hydrotherapy pool, multisensory room and floor-level trampoline. In the Enrichment room, responsive lighting and sounds provide further opportunities to explore. Outdoor areas are used regularly too; the wider school grounds include gardens and play equipment accessible to wheelchair users.

Across Rosewood, daily plans combine predictable routines with individual and group activities. Positioning and orthotics form part of the day for children with physical needs. Learning therefore has to work alongside the positions and support each child needs, rather than follow one identical timetable for everyone.

Each child is paired with a key person from their class team, providing a familiar adult during settling and a contact for the family. Parents are not expected to leave until they feel confident. Family members can spend informal time in school, and regular contact continues as children settle. Parents' knowledge of their child is part of this process.

Medical and therapy support is integrated into early years provision. On-site professionals include nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and a speech and language therapist. Community paediatricians hold school clinics, while feeding appointments with a dietician and orthotics clinics can also take place there. Specialist advisory teachers support children with hearing or visual impairments. For families managing several appointments, school-based clinics can reduce hospital journeys.

Eating and drinking are learning activities with individual programmes. Every child has their own lunchtime partner. Children who do not currently eat orally have programmes addressing oral health and the development of oral skills, so mealtime support extends beyond feeding.

Placement matters. Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Rosewood's placements are managed by the local authority, which consults the school about whether it can meet a child's needs. Families should address the next placement with their local authority rather than treat nursery attendance as an automatic allocation.

During nursery, Rosewood starts the EHCP application process for children, aiming to have the plan established before Reception. Staff support families through that process. This preparation concerns the child's assessed needs and support; placement decisions remain with the local authority.

The nursery day runs from 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday. Children may begin part time and increase attendance towards full time as appropriate. This allows attendance to develop around the child.

Uniform is optional, with Skoolkit supplying it for families who choose it. For registered academy pupils, admission and attendance carry no charge; other charges are restricted to those permitted for maintained schools.

Families considering early years provision are welcome to visit. Contact the school office on 023 80 571050 or email info@rosewoodfreeschool.org.uk to make an enquiry. When arranging school transport, apply well before the intended start and give details of wheelchair use and health needs so these can be considered in the journey arrangements.