The FMS Inspection Score is FindMySchool's proprietary analysis based on official Ofsted and ISI inspection reports. It converts ratings into a standardised 1–10 scale for fair comparison across all schools in England.
Disclaimer: The FMS Inspection Score is an independent analysis by FindMySchool. It is not endorsed by or affiliated with Ofsted or ISI. Always refer to the official Ofsted or ISI report for the full picture of a school’s inspection outcome.
Nursery at Camp Primary and Nursery School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Paint, clay and early conversation give Camp’s nursery its character. Children join aged 3, turning 4 during the academic year from September to August, and the nursery can accommodate 30 children at any one time. It belongs to Camp Primary and Nursery School on Camp Road in St Albans. Nursery and Reception work closely within a Foundation Stage Unit, giving the youngest children a shared early years setting.
Learning starts with practical exploration. In July 2023, Ofsted described nursery children making artwork influenced by artists, using bubble wrap and leaves alongside paintbrushes. These materials give children different ways to experiment with marks and texture. The early years art programme also introduces drawing with chalk, pencils and fingers, and modelling with dough, clay, natural objects and recycled materials.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) includes opportunities to talk, listen and begin writing through activities children choose themselves. Adults introduce vocabulary during focused work and active learning; mark making gives children a starting point for writing. Time for Phonics supplies practical activities using different senses for early phonics teaching. Books have a physical home, too: every child can visit the renovated library weekly and choose fiction and non-fiction to borrow.
Outdoor learning has a named approach. Forest School reaches each class at some stage during the year, with sessions continuing in different weather conditions. Children need spare old clothes and closed-toe footwear, such as wellington boots. The wider school grounds include allotments and growing areas, while outdoor art uses the grounds and outdoor learning area.
Settling begins before classroom routines take over. New foundation stage children receive a home visit from their teachers, and parents can join Stay and Play sessions early in the term. Nursery families also have Stay and Play opportunities to share their children’s learning. These arrangements bring home and school together around the child’s first experiences.
Support for special educational needs and disabilities involves teachers, the SEN coordinator and learning support staff. Individual provision maps are shared with parents and reviewed each term, giving families specific targets to discuss. Referrals can include the Early years SEND team and Children’s Speech and Language Therapy. A school sensory room can be adjusted to calm or stimulate according to individual needs.
Herts Catering Limited provides school meals, including charged nursery meals booked through the office and paid for using Arbor. Fruit is supplied to foundation stage children at morning break. Milk can be ordered through DairyLink. Arbor also carries school communications, and parent consultations provide time to discuss settling and progress.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Hertfordshire County Council’s online admissions system and meet the normal Reception application deadline.
Classroom familiarity is a separate benefit. Nursery children visit the Reception classroom regularly before moving on, so the next room becomes familiar through repeated contact. For children moving elsewhere, the nursery teacher meets their new Reception teacher to pass on information. Children with SEND can spend additional time in their next environment, supported by transition books containing classroom and teacher pictures and meetings involving parents and staff.
The 15-hour funded option runs from 8:30 to 11:30 in the morning. For working parents eligible for 30-hour funding, the longer provision runs from 8:30 to 2:30. An additional charged hour extends this to 3:30; contact the school for current charges.
Early Risers Breakfast and Happy Campers After School Club also have a nursery booking route. This gives families another option to consider alongside the nursery sessions. Nursery applications go directly to the school using its application form. For enquiries, call the office on 01727 851056.
Children must already be aged 3 and turn 4 during the academic year between September and August. There is capacity for 30 children at any one time.
The 15-hour funded morning runs from 8:30 to 11:30. Provision for working parents eligible for 30-hour funding runs from 8:30 to 2:30, with an optional charged hour until 3:30.
New foundation stage children receive a teacher home visit. Stay and Play sessions allow parents and carers to join children during the initial part of term.
Yes. Herts Catering Limited supplies charged nursery meals, booked through the school office and paid for through Arbor. Foundation stage children also receive fruit at morning break.
No. A separate Reception application must be made through Hertfordshire County Council’s online admissions system by the normal deadline. Classroom visits support transition but do not guarantee admission.
