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Nursery at Thatcham Park CofE Primary
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Play, conversation and early sound recognition give Thatcham Park’s nursery its character. Stepping Stones serves two-year-olds, while Foundation 1 caters for children aged three and four within the Church of England primary school on Park Avenue, Thatcham. These are distinct stages of nursery provision, rather than one mixed-age group.
Children can start in the term following their second or third birthday, respectively. Stepping Stones has a limit of 16 children per session; Foundation 1 has two rooms, each capped at 29 per session. Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 8 and 9 May 2024. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) centres learning on play and children’s interests. Adults plan experiences around what children already understand, the questions they ask and the things that interest them. Children have time to return to activities and try ideas again. For parents, this means exploration and repetition are part of learning, rather than simply filling a session.
Indoor and outdoor play both contribute to that approach. Seeing, listening and doing give children ways to investigate and solve problems. Communication, emotional development and relationships receive particular attention. In May 2024, nursery children were learning to distinguish sounds, while the wider early years provision supported concentration and participation in independent activities and small groups. The emphasis is on building the attention and language that later learning needs.
Early years routines and relationships provide continuity through the day. The nursery team works alongside parents and carers, offering practical guidance and responding to children’s individual needs. In May 2024, children in early years formed friendships readily and enjoyed playing with one another, giving social learning a clear place alongside language development.
The school’s wider inclusion team includes a SENCO and Family School Support Workers. Their work with families can cover feeding, toileting and routines at home, with signposting to Home Start for families with children under five. Parents can arrange a discussion about additional needs through the school office. The school also works with an Educational Psychologist, the Sensory Consortium and an Occupational Therapist, creating routes to specialist advice where needed.
A nursery place does not guarantee admission to Thatcham Park’s Reception. Families must make a separate application through West Berkshire Council’s normal admissions process and meet the normal deadline. Familiarity with the school should therefore be kept separate from the question of securing a place.
For eligible children using 15 funded hours, the pattern is five mornings, 8.30am to 11.30am, or five afternoons, noon to 3pm. The 30-hour funded option allows attendance from 8.30am to 3pm on up to five days a week and carries an additional daily charge. Families sharing funding between providers must still book at least two sessions a week here.
Extra self-funded hours depend on space and the school’s agreement. Tapestry handles nursery invoices; contact the school for current charges. To register interest, families submit a signed form with a copy of the child’s birth certificate. Eligible funding codes must reach the school before the starting term begins. Enquiries go to office@thatchampark.w-berks.sch.uk or 01635 870950.
Stepping Stones accepts children from the term after their second birthday. Foundation 1 accepts children from the term after their third birthday and caters for three- and four-year-olds.
Morning sessions run from 8.30am to 11.30am. Afternoon sessions run from noon to 3pm.
The 30-hour funded option offers 8.30am to 3pm on up to five days a week, with an additional daily charge. Extra self-funded hours require available space and the school’s agreement.
No. Families must apply separately through West Berkshire Council’s admissions process.
Contact the school office on 01635 870950 or email office@thatchampark.w-berks.sch.uk. Registering interest requires a signed form and a copy of the child’s birth certificate.
