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Nursery at Bentfield Primary School and Nursery
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Makaton at registration, gardening in Apple Class and stories woven into play give Bentfield’s nursery its own character within the school. Based in Stansted Mountfitchet, it forms part of Bentfield Primary School’s Early Years Foundation Stage provision.
Children can join in the term of their third birthday. There are also up to five afternoon places for two-year-olds whose families qualify for funding. That younger intake has a specific session pattern, rather than access to every option.
Play and investigation shape the learning. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together talking, movement, relationships and early academic skills: children explore number and written language alongside creative work and discovering how the world works. Indoor and outdoor learning receive equal weight. The school’s forest area is used throughout the year by every class, giving learning a physical setting beyond the classroom.
Apple Class topics make that approach concrete. Traditional Tales includes Goldilocks and the Three Bears and The Three Billy Goats Gruff; Creepers and Crawlers brings gardening, plant growth and insect study into the mix. People who help us introduces community jobs, from dentistry to firefighting. These give children recognisable subjects to talk about and investigate.
Registration and snacks also introduce Makaton signs, so communication practice runs through ordinary routines. In February 2024, Ofsted found that nursery rhymes and storytelling developed children’s language, while purposeful adult interaction and play supported curiosity, persistence and sociability across early years.
Parents contribute knowledge of their child and can raise concerns with the nursery team. Tapestry sends photographs of children’s activities home through an app, giving families something specific to discuss together. The team introduces its use before attendance begins. Parents can also contribute craft materials, share skills or help during a session.
Snack time doubles as a chance to practise conversation and social skills. Milk is free for nursery children, with water offered to those who do not drink it; each session includes a healthy snack supported by a voluntary contribution. Children staying over lunch can have a booked school meal or bring food from home. Families must tell staff about allergies and provide medical documentation from their GP.
Bentfield adapts its curriculum for SEND and makes adjustments for individual pupils. Shared school facilities include a soft play room and a light and sound studio. Families can contact the SEND team at SEND@bentfield.essex.sch.uk to discuss their child’s needs.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Essex County Council using the normal Reception application process and meeting the deadline for their intake. Choosing familiar surroundings for nursery therefore remains a separate decision from securing a school place.
Sessions run on weekdays during term time: mornings are 8:45am to 11:45am, afternoons 12:15pm to 3:15pm, and full days 8:45am to 3:15pm. The lunchtime period falls between the two shorter sessions.
Funding includes the 15- and 30-hour schemes for three- and four-year-olds, plus provision for eligible two-year-olds. Two-year-olds attend afternoons; older children are encouraged towards mornings. Children entitled to 30 hours of funded childcare can attend full days once they turn three. Additional sessions depend on space and carry charges. Families can opt out of the lunch-session charge by collecting at 2:45pm instead of 3:15pm; school meals are charged separately. Contact the school for current charges.
Funding flexibility. Bentfield does not split funded hours with another provider or carry unused sessions into later days or weeks. Funding also stays with Bentfield until term ends if a child leaves mid-term. These conditions matter when combining childcare arrangements.
Comfortable play clothes, shoes with Velcro fastenings and named wellington boots support independence and outdoor play. Tell staff when a different adult will collect. Enquiries go to admin@bentfield.essex.sch.uk or 01279 813626; nursery applications use a separate form returned with a copy of the child’s birth certificate.
Children can start in the term when they turn three. Up to five afternoon spaces also cater for two-year-olds from families eligible for funding.
During term time, weekday mornings run from 8:45am to 11:45am and afternoons from 12:15pm to 3:15pm. Full days run from 8:45am to 3:15pm.
No. Families must apply separately through Essex County Council for Reception and meet the deadline for their intake.
Yes. Children staying during lunchtime can bring a packed lunch or have a separately charged school meal booked for them.
The nursery uses Tapestry to send activity photographs to parents through its app. The nursery team discusses its use before the child starts.
