Bandon Hill Primary School Nursery

Stories, action rhymes and listening games give Bandon Hill’s nursery a clear language focus. Children combine activities they choose themselves with experiences guided by adults, building the attention and vocabulary that support early reading. This is nursery provision within Bandon Hill Primary School on Sandy Lane South in Wallington.

The wider school grounds include The Meadow, a woodland learning area, alongside a library and dedicated music room. These are facilities of the wider school. Morning and afternoon nursery sessions provide two distinct patterns for families.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) includes communication, language and literacy: here, that means sharing poems and stories, joining in rhymes and practising careful listening. Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised is the school’s named phonics programme. In nursery, the emphasis is on foundations, including oral blending, where children listen to separate sounds and combine them into a word.

Adult guidance sits alongside children’s own choices. That balance gives children opportunities to explore while also taking part in purposeful language activities. Science begins in nursery too, with practical enquiry encouraging children to observe, question and explain the natural world. The school aims to develop the vocabulary children need to talk about their discoveries.

In June 2024, children in the early years generally achieved well in mathematics and reading, and learned to give teachers their attention. Number bonds, the combinations that make a number, were taught securely. These findings concern the school’s early years as a whole. A school-wide improvement requirement concerned checking understanding more consistently so that mistaken ideas and gaps in learning could be addressed promptly.

Support for additional needs follows a graduated approach, with Learning Plans potentially introduced to monitor identified barriers or needs. Parents are involved in discussion before a child joins the SEND register. This makes planning support a shared conversation rather than simply a label. Visual timetables help children understand the sequence of the day, while Zones of Regulation uses coloured categories to help them describe feelings and consider ways to manage them.

Food routines include daily fruit or vegetables for EYFS children. Children under five can receive free milk, with registration through Coolmilk or the school office. Nuts are prohibited across the school, including in packed lunches; families must return an allergy or intolerance form to the office. MCAS (My Child at School) carries communication and updates, giving parents a regular connection with school life.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through their home local authority, using its Common Application Form and naming Bandon Hill Primary School as a preference. The deadline is 15 January in the year of admission. Sutton co-ordinates admissions to the school, including applications from families who apply through another local authority.

Morning nursery runs from 8:30 to 11:30; afternoon nursery runs from 12:30 to 15:30. Applications go directly to the school. Prospective parents can book a school tour through the office, with a member of the leadership team.

Nursery clothing comprises a white polo shirt, maroon cardigan or sweatshirt, black joggers and black shoes or trainers with joggers. Branded clothing is optional. General enquiries can be made on 020 8647 5377 or through the school’s contact form.