Springfield Primary School Nursery Review

Rhymes begin the day and stories close it, with long stretches of free-flow learning between them. Springfield’s nursery in Sunbury-on-Thames combines that open-ended time with scheduled literacy, mathematics and lunch. For parents, the defining feature is the balance: children have time to explore, alongside a recognisable daily rhythm.

This is Springfield Primary School’s own nursery, on Nursery Road. Nursery teaching roles include paediatric first-aid responsibilities, while the wider school team includes an early years lead, a special educational needs coordinator and staff supporting inclusion. Those roles give families distinct points of contact for learning and care concerns.

Self-registration and rhymes run from 9.00 to 9.15, followed by free-flow learning from 9.15 to 10.30. Literacy and topic work occupy another morning slot, with learning activities before lunch. The afternoon gives free-flow learning a substantial block, from 12.00 to 2.20, before mathematics from 2.20 to 2.45. Stories and celebration round off the day before dismissal at 3.00.

The pattern gives children both exploratory time and sessions with a particular learning focus. At the inspection on 22 and 23 February 2022, early years children were learning to recognise and pronounce sounds and developing mathematical vocabulary to explain their ideas. These are concrete foundations for reading and talking about number, rather than simply a timetable of activities.

In February 2022, Ofsted identified a phonics training concern: some staff used inconsistent methods that could confuse children. The improvement action was to ensure staff understood and used the agreed teaching approach. That matters alongside the emphasis on early sound recognition.

Lunch has its own half-hour slot, from 11.30 to 12.00, separating the morning’s learning from the longer afternoon free-flow period. Nursery teachers also hold paediatric first-aider roles, connecting classroom staffing with a practical care responsibility.

The Thrive Approach operates across the school to help children understand feelings, decisions and friendships. Licensed Thrive Practitioners provide targeted emotional support and, wherever possible, work with families and teachers on individual action plans. This gives parents a route into shared support when a child needs help managing emotions.

Safeguarding concerns can be raised with the designated safeguarding lead or emailed to dsl@springfield.surrey.sch.uk. The school may work with other agencies and normally discusses welfare concerns with parents first, unless doing so could harm the child’s welfare.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal local authority route, via Surrey County Council, and meet the deadline for their entry year.

For the September 2026 intake, applications closed on 15 January 2026. That cycle is now past. School places are allocated using oversubscription criteria when applications exceed places, so choosing the nursery should remain a decision about the nursery experience itself.

The nursery timetable starts at 9.00 and finishes at 3.00, with one important exception: Hedgehogs begin at 8.30 on Wednesday mornings. That earlier start needs to be built into the family routine.

Uniform includes a school-logo red cardigan or jumper, a white polo shirt, charcoal-grey bottoms and black shoes suitable for indoors and outdoors. A coat is required. Children may bring their own wellington boots, and spare pairs are kept at school. The logo bookbag is optional.

For nursery enquiries, contact info@springfield.surrey.sch.uk or telephone 01932 782 815.