Horndon-On-the-Hill CofE Primary School Nursery

Choosing a book and sharing it with an adult gives this nursery its clearest character: stories matter from the start. Horndon-On-the-Hill CofE Primary School provides nursery education for children aged two to four, within its Church of England primary school on Hillcrest Road. Osborne Co-operative Academy Trust is the school's academy trust.

The school's early years provision was graded Good at the Ofsted inspection on 26 and 27 September 2023. That judgement covers early years within the school. The school values its Christian ethos and aims to help children express feelings and ideas, developing independence and resilience through opportunities for discussion.

Books give children something to choose, enjoy and share. In September 2023, children in the early years selected stories to read with adults and with one another. This gives early reading a social dimension: children participate in choosing the book, as well as listening to it. For a parent, that is a useful picture of learning through an everyday activity.

The early years foundation stage (EYFS) provides the beginnings of later learning. Here, the early reading sequence moves from recognising letter sounds towards combining those sounds to read when children have understood them. The sequence matters: the next step follows understanding, rather than simply exposure to a new activity.

Adult interaction is another concrete feature. In September 2023, trained staff used carefully considered questions to explore children's understanding. Those exchanges give adults a way to look beyond participation and establish what a child has grasped. Stories, shared reading and questioning are the strongest features of the nursery day supported by the early years findings.

Starting nursery involves getting used to adults, other children and a different routine. In September 2023, nursery children became comfortable with school life quickly. That finding offers reassurance about their experience of settling, while remaining a judgement about children attending at that time.

Support for special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) begins with recognising needs early. In September 2023, early identification helped nursery staff give children the assistance they required. For families, the practical significance is support during the nursery stage, rather than waiting until later schooling. Staff questioning and early recognition of additional needs both place attention on the individual child's understanding and support requirements.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a place in the school's Reception class. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the normal deadline. Choosing the nursery and applying for a school place are separate decisions. Familiarity with school life should therefore be considered separately from the allocation of a Reception place.

The school is on Hillcrest Road, Horndon-on-the-Hill, SS17 8LR. Nursery enquiries can go to the school office at admin.hps@osborne.coop or by telephone on 01375 673260. This gives families a direct school contact for their enquiry.