Brookland Infant and Nursery School Nursery Review

Poems learnt by heart and stories turned into imaginative play give Brookland’s nursery a clear language focus. In March 2024, nursery children were creating stories and acting them out, connecting spoken language with the beginnings of writing. Words have a practical purpose here: children use them to tell a story, take a role and express an idea.

The nursery forms part of Brookland Infant and Nursery School on Elm Drive in Cheshunt. Its March 2024 provision included morning and afternoon sessions, alongside 30-hour funded places. Those arrangements describe the provision at that time.

Language runs through the activities. The March 2024 inspection found that nursery children’s poetry recitation and story-based role-play supported vocabulary growth and early writing. Learning a poem gives children words to remember and say aloud; acting out their own stories gives them a different way to use that language. These are concrete activities parents can picture, rather than an abstract promise about preparation for school.

Reading also has a physical place. In March 2024, each classroom had a comfortable reading corner, with books displayed throughout the school. For nursery children, that means books belong within their learning space, alongside opportunities to speak and play. The emphasis connects hearing and telling stories with exploring books.

Routines and activities also encouraged nursery children to become more independent and choose how to approach their learning. This adds another dimension to the day: children practise making decisions as well as joining in with language activities. The educational value lies in those small opportunities to choose and act for themselves.

Familiar routines were an early-years strength in March 2024: children picked them up promptly. For a young child, learning what happens next is a useful part of becoming comfortable with a session. The practical emphasis sits alongside opportunities to exercise independence, so routines and personal choices both have a place.

Learning about families and cultures began in nursery. That gives children opportunities to encounter differences as part of their ordinary learning, rather than leaving those conversations until later in school. It is a specific strand of inclusion that parents can weigh alongside the nursery’s language activities.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families need to make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the relevant deadline. Choosing the nursery and securing a Reception place are separate decisions.

The nursery’s work on vocabulary, early writing and independence offers useful preparation for the next stage of learning. That educational preparation should be considered separately from admission: taking part in nursery activities does not secure a place in the school’s Reception.

In March 2024, the nursery operated both morning and afternoon sessions and offered 30-hour funded places. The distinction matters when weighing a shorter session against a longer attendance pattern; the historical arrangements should not be treated as a current booking offer.

Brookland’s address is Elm Drive, Cheshunt, Waltham Cross, EN8 0RX. The school telephone number is 01992629485, providing a direct contact route for families considering its nursery.