The Mead Community Primary School Nursery Review

Two nursery settings give The Mead its early education character: The Orchard Nursery at Hilperton and Cygnets Nursery at Wingfield. Both take children from three years old. At Hilperton, a purpose-built nursery stands in the school grounds; Wingfield offers a village setting with extensive outdoor grounds. The choice therefore includes the surroundings as well as the learning approach.

Play and exploration shape the provision. The nursery combines activities guided by adults with learning prompted by children’s interests, using indoor and outdoor spaces. Children have a part in deciding what captures their attention, while adults plan the skills they will practise.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) gives that play a framework. Its seven areas cover language and communication, movement, emotional and social development, early reading and writing, maths, discovering the world, and creative expression. For parents, this means learning extends beyond letters and numbers: conversation, physical activity and playing alongside other children also count.

Adults watch children playing and use those observations to plan what comes next. Parents’ observations contribute too. This gives the curriculum a connection to what a child is already doing and finding interesting, rather than treating every activity as a separate task.

Music has a regular place in the week. Nursery music lessons run once weekly for 45 minutes to an hour, with singing and games involving clapping used in early years to explore rhythm. A cover teacher teaches music during the specialist teacher’s maternity leave. The activity gives children a practical way to experience rhythm through their voices and movements.

Learning also reaches beyond the nursery spaces. Enrichment has included farm trips, visits by police and firefighters, and local walks looking at the seasons. These experiences bring people, places and changes in nature into children’s learning.

Weekly photographs through Seesaw give parents a view of their child’s learning. Alongside adults’ observations of play, this creates something concrete to discuss at home and helps families stay connected to nursery activities.

Lunch takes nursery children into the main hall, where they eat in the first sitting. Hot meals are cooked on site each day. Typical menus may feature pizza, a roast, fish or pasta bolognaise; a meat-free choice is offered daily, with bread, salad and drinking water also provided. Older children help younger ones with table manners, drinks and clearing away, making lunch part of the social day.

For additional needs, the school has an Inclusion Lead and emphasises identifying support needs early. The Thrive Approach is used across the school to understand emotional needs through children’s behaviour and to select activities and strategies in response. Families can contact the Inclusion Lead through the office, giving them a direct route to discuss support.

A nursery place does not guarantee a Reception place at The Mead. Families must make a separate application to Wiltshire Council through the normal Reception admissions process and follow its current criteria. Treat the nursery choice and the Reception application as separate decisions.

Preparation for starting school includes visits to the new learning space and staff. Incoming Reception children receive a home visit from two Reception team members, and parents are invited to an open evening. These arrangements introduce the next stage; they do not secure admission.

The Mead offers 15 and 30 funded hours weekly. Free Entitlement begins in the term following a child’s third birthday; the 30-hour offer depends on space and verification of the eligibility code.

At Wingfield, nursery core hours are 8.45am to 4.15pm. Breakfast Club runs from 7.45am to 8.45am and can be reserved ahead for a charge. Ask the school for current charges. Nursery closures include the October 2026 training days on 19, 20 and 21 October, so these need a place in childcare planning.

Enquiries go first to the office team, which can direct families to the appropriate colleague. Contact 01225 759273 or office@themead.equamead.org; a contact form is also available.