Badbury Park Primary School Nursery Review

Songs, sound games and woodland learning give Apple Tree Class its character. This is Badbury Park Primary School’s on-site nursery for children aged three and four, with up to 26 children in morning and afternoon sessions. Play leads the learning, with adults building activities around children’s interests rather than keeping exploration separate from teaching.

At the Ofsted inspection on 24 to 25 January 2024, early years provision was graded Good. Nursery children were developing their awareness of sounds and enjoying familiar tales and rhymes: concrete foundations for early reading.

Self-registration gives children an early chance to do something for themselves. They then explore the learning spaces before gathering for registration, counting and morning songs. A teacher may take a small group for a brief activity while others continue playing indoors or outside. Adults watch, join in and introduce a next step as play develops. Sessions finish with songs and a story or an activity such as dough disco.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines learning with children’s social, communication and physical development. Here, child-led play sits alongside activities initiated by adults. Natural materials that children can use in different ways support exploration inside and outdoors; welly walks and Forest School bring learning into the natural environment. The school’s Forest School occupies woodland behind its grounds, giving outdoor learning a physical base.

Early writing starts with movement. Squiggle Wiggle sessions support physical skills, while opportunities to make marks and explore maths extend across the learning environment. Level 1 Phonics includes listening games and sound walks, with attention to rhyme and hearing the sounds within words. Children work towards saying sounds together and separating them orally. These are preparation for reading, rather than a rush into written work.

Settling begins at the start of a term, allowing time for children to adjust. The nursery says wellbeing and engagement take precedence during transition, recognising that some children are experiencing care beyond their immediate family for the first time. In January 2024, early-years adults established an understanding of children’s needs promptly.

Parents can follow learning through the Interactive Learning Diary (ILD), an online record of observations. Open House events and curriculum evenings provide further opportunities for contact. For additional needs, teaching staff work with the Blue Kite Academy Trust SEND team, and parents are involved in special provision. That gives families a route into discussing support alongside the classroom team.

A rolling fruit snack lets children eat and chat with friends during the session. For lunch, families can choose a charged cooked meal or provide a packed lunch. This offers a practical choice for children staying longer.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Swindon Borough Council and meet the deadline for their entry year. For the 2024 entry cycle, the application deadline was 15 January 2024; that date belongs to a past admissions round.

Transition support is a separate matter. The school’s starting-school programme includes four summer Stay and Play sessions, parent meetings and home visits. Its EYFS lead or SENCo contacts a child’s existing nursery and may visit. These arrangements help children become familiar with adults, peers and learning spaces; they do not secure admission.

Morning sessions run Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 11:30am. A limited number of 30-hour places combine Monday to Thursday, 8:30am to 3:15pm, with Friday, 8:30am to 11:30am. Friday Stay & Play extends care from 11:30am to 3:15pm for an additional charge. Preferred session times are not guaranteed, so the confirmed pattern matters when planning work and collection.

Up to 15 funded hours begin in the term after a child’s third birthday, across 38 weeks annually. A parental declaration and birth certificate are required. An additional 15 hours depend on employment and earnings eligibility, with funding codes renewed approximately every three months. Families who do not qualify for more than 15 funded hours per week can purchase additional sessions, subject to availability; ask the school for current charges.

Nursery applications use an online form. Tours can be booked through the office on 01793 299101 or admin@badburypark.bluekitetrust.org. Uniform is compulsory: grey tracksuit bottoms, a white polo, a school-logo jumper or cardigan, and practical black or grey shoes. Label each item.