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Nursery at Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Counting ducks in water gives a concrete picture of early learning at Winterbourne: children exploring numbers through something they can handle and enjoy. This school nursery takes children from age three on Winterbourne Road in Thornton Heath. Its day combines activities chosen by children with teaching led by adults, indoors and outside.
Ofsted graded the school's early years provision Good at its inspection on 13 and 14 September 2023. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.
Choice and adult guidance both have a place here. Children follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), which brings together learning to communicate, move, manage feelings, explore ideas and develop early literacy and number skills. Activities take place in the classroom and outdoor learning area, giving children different spaces in which to pursue their interests.
Adults watch children's play and join in, using what interests a child to extend their understanding. Winterbourne's topic approach connects learning across subjects, with an emphasis on spoken language. For parents, the useful distinction is that play has a teaching purpose: an adult can build on a child's curiosity rather than simply set the next task.
Listening skills form the nursery foundation for the school's Little Wandle Letters and Sounds approach. Number learning also has a practical starting point: in September 2023, early years children counted ducks of different sizes in water, connecting objects with number concepts.
Curriculum planning. The September 2023 inspection identified weaker sequencing of knowledge in some foundation subjects, including early years. Activities did not always build children's understanding as effectively as they could. Families should weigh the Good early years judgement alongside this specific improvement point.
Support for communication needs is a concrete part of the nursery picture. In September 2023, the school's specialist SEND provision served three- and four-year-olds, with capacity for 12 children needing support with social interaction and communication. Work there focused on developing language and communication, making this a relevant feature for families considering specialist support.
The school's Parent Toolkit supplies activities and guidance covering turn-taking, listening, sensory play and practical skills such as toileting and dressing. These give parents ways to support development at home alongside conversations with the inclusion team, which can be contacted at inclusion@winterbourne-inf.croydon.sch.uk.
Family support also sits within the wider school's pastoral service. Parents can discuss concerns, receive referrals to other professionals and access food parcels when experiencing difficulties. This gives nursery families a school contact for pressures extending beyond their child's learning.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal school admissions route, handled by the London Borough of Croydon, and meet the applicable deadline. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as two distinct decisions.
For nursery enquiries and an application form, contact the School Office. Nursery applications are accepted throughout the year. The office can be reached on 020 8689 7684 or at office@winterbourne-inf.croydon.sch.uk.
For planning around school closures, the 2026–2027 calendar places autumn half-term on 26–30 October 2026. Check the term calendar alongside family work and childcare arrangements.
The nursery accepts children from age three. Contact the School Office for a nursery application form.
Children follow the EYFS through activities they choose and activities led by adults. Learning takes place in the classroom and outdoor area, with adults using children's interests to extend their skills.
Early years provision was graded Good at the school's Ofsted inspection on 13 and 14 September 2023. The inspection also identified curriculum sequencing in some foundation subjects, including early years, as an improvement area.
No. Families must apply separately for Reception through the normal Croydon school admissions route and meet the applicable deadline.
The school's inclusion team can be contacted at inclusion@winterbourne-inf.croydon.sch.uk. Its Parent Toolkit also provides guidance on communication, sensory needs and everyday developmental skills.
