Cottage Grove Primary School and Nursery: Nursery Review

First sounds and first school routines give Cottage Grove’s nursery its clearest character. Reading begins in Nursery, alongside learning to take turns, respond to instructions and put the school’s values into practice. This is the nursery provision within Cottage Grove Primary School and Nursery, on Chivers Close in Southsea.

Early years provision was graded Good at the Ofsted inspection on 25 and 26 June 2024. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating. For parents, the useful distinction is between that early years judgement and the specific teaching strengths and concerns below.

Read Write Inc Phonics gives early reading a named structure. Nursery children begin with initial sounds and move towards combining them into words through Fred talk and sound blending. The emphasis is on understanding how sounds join together, rather than simply recognising a finished word. Children are assessed regularly and grouped with others working at a similar level.

Reading needs a balanced view. In June 2024, it had a clear place from Nursery onwards, but early reading teaching across the school was uneven. Support differed between staff, and children did not consistently grasp the meaning of words they could read. This makes understanding a story, as well as sounding out its words, an important point for parents to discuss with staff.

Social learning has a practical shape too. In June 2024, nursery children received support with listening to instructions and waiting for their turn. Respect, acceptance and independence are among the school’s values, connecting these small daily habits to how children learn alongside one another.

A nursery support staff team sits within the school’s early years structure. For questions about additional needs, the class teacher is the first contact, with the special educational needs coordinator providing further help. This gives families a clear starting point for discussing their child’s support.

The wider school’s support includes a pastoral team that helps children and families and can connect them with outside agencies. Bilingual learning assistants support children learning English as an additional language. These are school resources, rather than a promise that every nursery child receives a particular intervention.

Communication also extends beyond conversations with staff. Monthly school updates reach parents by email through Arbor. Nursery children can use Seesaw for work set at home and receive feedback, with a registration code obtained from their teacher.

Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process. Treat choosing the nursery and securing a school place as separate decisions, even when the nursery is already part of the school.

For nursery enquiries, contact the admin team at admin@cottagegrove.co.uk or call 02392 341 133. The school office’s contact hours are Monday to Friday, 8am to 4:30 pm during term time; these are office hours, not nursery session times.

Prospective parents who want to discuss SEND provision can arrange a school visit through the admin office. That offers a direct opportunity to discuss their child’s needs with the school before deciding whether to apply.