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Nursery at Dundale Primary School and Nursery
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Weekly woodland sessions give Dundale’s nursery day a distinctive outdoor thread. A large wooded area within the school grounds provides somewhere for early years children to explore with their teachers, taking learning beyond classroom activities.
The nursery belongs to Dundale Primary School and Nursery on Silk Mill Way in Tring and has a maximum of 30 places. For the September 2026 intake, the eligible birth dates were 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2023. Provision expanded from September 2026 to offer up to 30 funded hours each week, during term time. The core pattern remains five mornings for the 2026/27 academic year, so families can keep a morning routine or use additional sessions.
Communication, movement and learning to get along are central to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum here. These sit alongside early literacy, number work, creative expression and discovering the world. Planning draws on Development Matters and Birth to Five Matters, with children’s interests and information from parents helping to shape learning. That gives home experiences a place in the curriculum.
Number learning has concrete daily forms. Children practise recognising small quantities without counting each item, explore basic number facts through practical activities, and join in counting rhymes and songs. These are early encounters with how numbers work, rather than simply learning to recite them. Developing Experts supports science teaching from early years onwards.
Woodland School takes place weekly for early years children, led by teachers. Exploring the wooded grounds gives children a different setting in which to investigate their surroundings. Children also have opportunities to choose learning activities with adult guidance, combining their own interests with staff support.
At the December 2024 inspection, early years children enjoyed learning through play with other children, practised sharing and turn-taking, and developed vocabulary and language skills. Those findings connect the social side of the day with the foundations for reading.
Starting nursery involves contact before the first sessions. The EYFS team visits every new nursery starter at home, and families have individual meetings with the early years lead. A September meeting gives parents another opportunity to discuss settling and raise worries. Staff are available at the gate in the morning and afternoon, making everyday conversations possible.
Additional transition support can be arranged where appropriate. The SENCo can be contacted through the school office, giving families a route to discuss additional needs alongside those early conversations.
Food fits around the session pattern. A morning snack is included at no extra charge. Children staying all day can bring a packed lunch or have a hot meal supplied by HCL. Dietary requirements must be discussed and agreed before school meals begin; packed lunches must exclude nuts and chocolate spread. These rules matter when planning food for a child with dietary needs.
Attending Dundale’s nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal Hertfordshire County Council process and meet its deadline. The route uses an online preference form, with a paper option for families who cannot access the internet; the local authority then communicates the allocation.
Treat choosing nursery and applying for Reception as two separate decisions. Settling into the school community does not replace that application.
For 2026/27, the 15 funded hours are organised as five morning sessions, from 9am to noon. Access to up to 30 funded hours requires parents to supply a funding code before their child starts; additional sessions can also be paid for. Unfunded afternoon sessions must be booked ahead for the half term.
Early drop-off begins at 8.35am and needs advance booking. Morning-only children can stay for a charged lunch club, with collection at 12.45pm. Meals and optional sessions carry charges, so obtain the current charges from the school before booking.
For nursery enquiries, contact admin@dundale.herts.sch.uk or 01442 822421. Collection must be by a known person aged at least 16, and changes need to reach the office beforehand.
Dundale has a maximum of 30 nursery places.
For 2026/27, the 15 funded hours run across five mornings, from 9am to noon, during term time.
Yes. Morning-only children can use a charged lunch club and be collected at 12.45pm. Children staying all day can bring a packed lunch or have a charged hot school meal.
The EYFS team makes home visits to all new nursery starters. Individual family meetings, a September settling meeting and daily opportunities to speak with staff support the start.
No. A separate application is required through Hertfordshire County Council’s normal Reception process, using an online preference form or the paper alternative.
