Kensington Avenue Primary School Nursery

Maths at snack time and boats made from recycled materials give Kensington Avenue’s nursery its practical character. This is the school’s own provision in Thornton Heath, taking children from age three. The autumn intake is 52 children, divided between morning and afternoon classes, with 26 in the morning group. A full-time option adds another possible shape to the day.

Play and everyday routines carry much of the learning. Within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), children encounter early writing through purposeful play, while nursery maths includes self-registration and snack time. That makes learning part of familiar activities rather than something reserved for a separate lesson.

Making is another strand. Children experiment with materials and tools, including designing boats through junk modelling. Art gives them opportunities to handle different materials and practise the small hand movements needed for later writing. Physical development includes a climbing frame, construction play and finger gym activities. The wider school site has green outdoor spaces used for play and learning; these sit alongside the practical activities of the early years curriculum.

Songs and movement also feature: children sing familiar nursery rhymes and try moving to the beat. Early years geography includes local maps and directions using bee-bots, connecting an understanding of places with simple technology. Science combines an adult-led activity following a group introduction with an independent activity through which children can apply their learning.

Teaching and assessment. The inspection concluding in March 2024 judged early years provision Requires Improvement. At that point, curriculum knowledge needed clearer sequencing, and checks on children’s learning were not consistently shaping activities or extending understanding. For parents, the useful question is how staff build on what their child already knows.

Emotional development has concrete tools: circle time, a calm box and a worry window feature in early years learning. These give children ways to practise routines, independence and expressing feelings.

For children joining with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), transition support can include information-sharing with families and other agencies. Where needs are high, visits to a previous setting and a detailed transition plan may be used. Individual Learning Plans identify targets, resources and support; parents receive plans and are invited to reviews at least termly. That creates specific opportunities to discuss whether support is helping.

SEND support. In March 2024, early years targets lacked enough precision, so additional help did not consistently match children’s exact needs. Families should pay close attention to how individual targets are defined and reviewed.

Food needs are addressed through the school’s independent caterers, who accommodate specialist diets, including allergies, intolerances and cultural choices. Across the mainstream building, accessible toilets and lifts support mobility, with ramps serving outdoor classrooms.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place or confer priority for entry in 2027/28. Families must make a separate application through the usual process, using eAdmissions; Croydon Council manages Reception admissions on the trust’s behalf. Treat this as a separate decision and application, even if your child is already settled in nursery.

Transition support is a different matter. The school arranges classroom familiarisation sessions and teacher handovers, sharing learning plans where relevant. Social stories can help children who need additional preparation for changing routines. These practices support familiarity, rather than providing an admissions advantage.

Morning sessions run from 8.45am to 11.45am; afternoons run from 12.15pm to 3.15pm. Parents indicate their preferred session on the nursery application form, and the school office manages nursery admissions. These three-hour sessions give families a clear basis for planning the surrounding day.

Pedestrian access during the school day is through Buckingham Avenue or Hawthorn Avenue. Children must remain with an adult on the playground until supervision begins when doors open at 8.40am.

Enquiries can go to office@kaps.croydon.sch.uk or 020 8764 2923. Visits can be arranged through the school. For family calendars, the school’s autumn half-term break in 2026 runs from 19 to 30 October, making it a two-week break.