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Nursery at Shaw Ridge Primary School
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Outdoor play in every kind of weather and children helping prepare their own snacks give Shaw Ridge Nursery a practical, hands-on character. Its 24 places cater for three- and four-year-olds within Shaw Ridge Primary School in West Swindon. Children can start from their third birthday.
Ofsted graded the school's early years provision Good at the inspection on 15 and 16 March 2022. This is an early years judgement within the school inspection, rather than a separate nursery rating.
Painting, cooking and daily outdoor play are part of nursery life. Children need wellies and clothes suited to the weather, so outdoor exploration is built into the day. Across the school, each classroom has direct access to its own outdoor area. The wider grounds include Unity Garden, with an orchard, pond, vegetable plot and beach area.
Learning follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). In parent terms, this brings together language, physical skills and social development with early literacy, maths, creativity and discovery. Practical play combines activities children choose with tasks introduced or led by adults. Staff observations help determine the next steps, giving children's interests and existing skills a role in planning.
Snack preparation offers a concrete example: children contribute food ideas, help with shopping lists, set tables and sometimes prepare ingredients. Everyday jobs become opportunities for conversation and problem-solving.
In March 2022, the early years curriculum had a clear learning sequence, with plentiful opportunities to explore number. Children also used conversation to develop ideas together, including explaining a construction made with magnetic pieces. A wider curriculum improvement action called for clearer identification of essential knowledge across subjects, beginning in early years, so later learning could build more securely on it.
The settling arrangements dated January 2020 allow parents to stay for the first fifteen minutes while staff help their child engage with an activity. If distress continues for twenty minutes after a parent leaves, staff call home. A comfort item can help an anxious child, and parents can telephone the office for an update. Confirm the current settling arrangements with the school. Members of the early years team hold paediatric first-aid qualifications.
Daily snacks include cheese with crackers, houmous and crudités, or pasta served with vegetable sauce; fruit and milk are also provided. There is a termly snack charge. Families must explain allergies and food restrictions before attendance and record them on the Pupil Information form.
Toileting. Children are asked to be toilet trained before starting, and staff offer guidance and deal with accidents. Regular nappy changing is not nursery policy because of limited space and changing facilities; children needing regular nappy use, for example for medical reasons, require a care plan with the SENCO and local Health Visitor. This needs an individual discussion before starting.
Parents have two formal progress meetings each year and an annual report. Additional concerns can be discussed by appointment. Across the school, the SENCO coordinates additional support, while teachers plan provision and discuss children's needs with families.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families apply separately through Swindon Borough Council, online or using a paper form. For September 2027 entry, the deadline is 15 January 2027.
Attendance does feature in the 2027/28 oversubscription criteria: Shaw Ridge Nursery is a recognised feeder nursery, and children attending when they apply fall within criterion six. That criterion comes after distance, so families should give it limited weight when planning their next step.
Transition activities are separate from allocation. Before a September start, families attend a summer Open Evening to meet Reception teachers, followed by short classroom visits for children. These introduce the people and space ahead of the change.
The session times dated January 2020 are 8.45am to 11.45am for mornings, 12.15pm to 3.15pm for afternoons, and 11.45am to 12.15pm for lunch. Confirm current times with the school. The nursery accepts government funding for 15 or 30 hours weekly, subject to availability and the number attending; funding starts in the term after a child's third birthday. Ask the school for current charges.
Nursery applications go directly to the school, with forms obtainable online or from the office. For enquiries, telephone 01793 871601. Formal uniform is optional: suggested clothing includes a navy jumper and grey or black jogging bottoms or leggings. Bring named spare clothes and a water bottle. Collection is through the rear nursery entrance, and staff release children only to adults authorised in writing by parents.
The nursery caters for three- and four-year-olds, with entry from a child's third birthday.
The times dated January 2020 are 8.45am to 11.45am for mornings, 12.15pm to 3.15pm for afternoons, and 11.45am to 12.15pm for lunch. Confirm current times with the school.
It accepts government funding for 15 or 30 hours per week, depending on availability and the number of children attending. Funding begins in the term after the third birthday.
No. Nursery attendance is criterion six in the 2027/28 oversubscription arrangements, after distance. A separate application through Swindon Borough Council is required, by 15 January 2027 for September 2027 entry.
No. A simple outfit is suggested, including a navy jumper with grey or black jogging bottoms or leggings, and shoes children can change easily.
