Tolworth Infant and Nursery School: Nursery Review

Conversation drives the nursery day at Tolworth: a weekly chatterbox session, repeated rhymes and adult-supported play give children plenty of reasons to talk. This is nursery provision within Tolworth Infant and Nursery School, with places for three- and four-year-olds and a smaller, targeted intake of two-year-olds.

Capacity is expressed as the equivalent of 52 part-time places for the older children, with some allocated as 30-hour places. Eight places serve eligible two-year-olds from the term after their second birthday, divided equally between morning and afternoon attendance. The school sits behind Tolworth Broadway, with green space for learning and play; Tolworth Children’s Centre shares the site. Ofsted rated the school’s early years provision Outstanding at its inspection on 5 and 6 December 2023. That judgement covers early years, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Children begin by putting their belongings away and hanging up coats, making independence part of the routine. Much of the session then centres on free-flow play, with adults extending vocabulary, mathematical thinking and imaginative play. Planned topics sit alongside activities shaped by children’s interests. Children have choices, while adults give those choices educational direction.

The early years foundation stage here takes practical form through language, movement, play and early learning. Chatterbox happens once a week with nursery teachers or the lead practitioner for two-year-olds, covering listening, taking turns, early number ideas and early phonics. A short carpet activity follows tidying, and the same nursery rhyme is revisited across the week so children can become familiar with its language.

Learning takes place outdoors as well as inside, with activities planned from staff observations and children’s interests. In December 2023, nursery PE included stair climbing and balancing on a stable surface. Art involved experimenting with colour combinations and exploring painting techniques through artists’ work. These are concrete foundations: children practise controlling their bodies and investigate what paint can do.

Learning diaries travel home, and families contribute pictures, photographs and comments. This gives parents a way to share experiences from home as well as see nursery learning. Nursery children receive individual starting dates, making the start letter important for planning their first attendance.

An inclusion manager coordinates special educational needs support across early years and Key Stage 1. The school’s support routes include Speech and Language Therapy, Educational Psychology and Occupational Therapy, alongside other specialist services. Its Children and Families Coordinator can help with parenting advice, emotional support and meetings, giving families a further contact when difficulties extend beyond learning.

Food provision at the infant school includes a kitchen and dining hall, with Harrison Catering Company preparing meals on site. Families should raise allergies or dietary requirements with the office. The school’s nut-free rule also applies to packed lunches.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. For the September 2026 intake, the deadline was 15 January 2026; that application cycle has passed.

Transition support is a separate matter. For the 2026 Reception intake, children were offered two taster sessions to meet staff and classmates. The first included a session specifically for children already attending Tolworth’s nursery. Such familiarisation helps children prepare for the change, but it does not secure admission.

Morning attendance runs from 8.45am to 11.45am, and afternoons from 12.30pm to 3.30pm. Children staying all day attend from 8.45am to 3.15pm. The different finishing times matter when arranging collection.

Universal funding provides 15 weekly hours from the term following a child’s third birthday; Tolworth offers three-year-old places from the September after they turn three. Eligible families can take 30 hours during term time. Additional wraparound care carries a charge and depends on availability; contact the school for current charges.

For a three- or four-year-old place, obtain an application form from the office and return it there. Families seeking an eligible two-year-old place register their interest at the office. Nursery uniform is optional, but clothing needs to suit indoor and outdoor play. General enquiries can go to admin@tins.rbksch.org or 020 8399 4231.