Muriel Green Nursery School: nursery life and the next step

Tomato plants, story maps and construction with crates give Muriel Green's nursery day its practical character. Children have things to grow, stories to reshape and structures to build. The nursery school provision serves children aged 3 to 5 on Church Crescent in St Albans, alongside a broader daycare service for younger children.

Muriel Green belongs to the Roots Federation, which brings together three nursery schools. Shared curriculum principles connect the settings, while each school can adapt how it teaches to its own children. For families, that means a common framework with room for children's interests.

Adult-guided learning sits alongside play children choose themselves. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) covers seven learning areas: in parent terms, children practise communication, movement, relationships, early reading and maths, creativity and understanding their surroundings through connected activities.

Stories become material for play and conversation. In June 2026, planned activities around We're Going on a Bear Hunt included making a story map, changing characters and retelling the story. This gives them a reason to remember events, organise ideas and use new words. Cooking brings another kind of practical learning: in August 2026, nursery school children made soup and flapjacks, discussing quantities and taking turns to mix ingredients.

Outdoors, the garden supports both construction and growing. In May 2026, new resources included crates, guttering, wheels and planks, which children turned into imaginary buildings and vehicles. Nursery children also watered strawberry, potato and tomato plants, connecting care routines with visible changes in living things.

Curriculum precision. At the April 2024 inspection, communication was a strength, but some learning areas needed clearer decisions about essential knowledge and vocabulary. Children were consequently less secure in those areas. That qualification matters alongside the appealing practical activities.

A child's key person builds familiarity and checks development, including speech and language, to identify possible support needs early. Parents can discuss progress and next steps with their key worker through consultations; an October 2025 consultation round offered an on-site or remote option. Comforters are permitted when a child needs that reassurance, while other toys are generally kept at home.

For children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), teaching can be adjusted, with targeted sessions and specialist involvement for more complex needs. The federation's support structure includes an Inclusion Manager, a SEND Coordinator and two SEND Leads. Parents of children with SEND receive calls and termly report cards and participate in support planning. In April 2024, signs and visual prompts helped children communicate, and safeguarding arrangements were effective.

Food also provides practice in independence. During April 2024, children cut fruit, helped themselves to food and poured water at shared meals. Three home-cooked meals are offered across the wider service, prepared in a professional kitchen; daily hot dinners are charged separately. Special dietary needs are catered for.

Attending Muriel Green does not guarantee a Reception place. Families apply separately for primary school through Hertfordshire's admissions process and must meet the deadline for their child's intake. Choosing nursery and choosing a Reception school are separate decisions.

Preparation is practical and emotional. In July 2026, children visited their new schools, shared stories about starting school and explored words such as cloakroom and assembly. Activities also addressed worries about change and practising socks and shoes independently. These help children understand the next step; they do not confer an admissions advantage.

For children aged 3 and 4 in the Nursery School room, funding applies only to school sessions from 9am to 3pm. The universal 15-hour entitlement begins the term after a child's third birthday; eligible working families can access up to 30 hours. Parents are responsible for maintaining a valid eligibility code. Additional attendance beyond funded hours is charged, and wraparound care is offered. Contact the school for current charges.

Nursery School follows terms, while daycare remained open over summer 2026. The site's weekday opening hours are 7.45am to 6.15pm. Uniform is optional, with green sweatshirts and polo shirts among the choices. Closed-toe footwear is required for play. The car park is for collection and drop-off, with disabled bays reserved for valid Blue Badge holders.

Enquiries go to admin@murielgreen.herts.sch.uk. Families can request a tour using the visit form, and paper application forms can be obtained through the nursery office.