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Nursery at Fairfields 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Daily stories, a Little Library and outdoor den building give Fairfields Nursery its character: books and practical play share the day. The school’s own nursery in Cheshunt has 30 places, with entry from the term following a child’s third birthday. September, January and April intakes give families several starting points across the school year.
Teacher-led nursery education comes in morning, afternoon and longer-day patterns. For children staying through lunch, the day includes a lunch club; Night Owlets extends nursery care into the afternoon. These arrangements make the length of the day a practical part of choosing this provision.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines learning to communicate, move and manage feelings with early literacy, maths, creativity and understanding the world. Here, adult-guided activities sit alongside uninterrupted stretches of play chosen by children. That gives a child time to keep building, investigating or talking rather than repeatedly stopping an activity.
Reading has a daily rhythm. Nursery children hear stories, sing familiar songs and take part in Rhyme Time. Little Wandle Foundations for Phonics sessions develop early sound awareness, including recognising sounds and joining them orally. White Rose Maths introduces number, shape and measures through practical activities. Weekly visits to the school library and borrowing from the nursery’s Little Library carry shared reading home.
Inside, the nursery has a creative area where children select materials for their own projects. Duplo, Lego and empty boxes become constructions that children can keep and change. Outdoors, planks, fabric and crates support larger building projects in an early years area used throughout the year. The point is tangible: children make decisions, test a structure and adjust it.
Exploration also reaches beyond construction. Barnaby Bear introduces nursery children to life in other countries, while push-and-pull toys provide an introduction to forces. Ofsted’s inspection on 21 and 22 March 2023 identified communication and language as early years priorities, with nursery reading beginning through listening to and retelling stories.
Settling starts before the first session. Staff visit families to learn about children’s experiences, then establish familiar daily routines. Visual timetables help children anticipate what happens next. A temporary shorter timetable can be agreed for an extended transition, giving the start some flexibility where needed.
ClassDojo connects home and nursery, recording achievements and welcoming examples of learning from families. Children can reach the snack bars themselves, making a small care routine an opportunity to practise independence. Longer-day children can bring a packed lunch or have a purchased school meal alongside the included lunch club. Milk is free for under-fives but must still be requested.
For additional needs, the school’s SENCo coordinates support, with early assessment, regular reviews and adaptations to classwork. Families are encouraged to contribute, and the team works with professionals including speech therapists. Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI) provides additional communication support in early years. In March 2023, expectations for routines and relationships were clear from the early years onwards.
A nursery place does not guarantee a Reception place at Fairfields. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route, online through Hertfordshire County Council, and meet the deadline for their child’s entry year. For the September 2026 intake, applications closed on 15 January 2026. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as two separate decisions.
The 15-hour pattern runs across five mornings, 8:45am to 11:45am, or five afternoons, 12:15pm to 3:15pm. Families must use the full allocation unless an extended transition includes an agreed temporary reduction. The 30-hour option runs from 8:45am to 3:15pm and can be government funded for eligible families or paid. Ask the school for current charges, including school meals.
Night Owlets operates from 3:15pm to 4:25pm in the Littlefields Nursery building, using early years equipment and staffed by early years teaching assistants. For enquiries or a possible small-group tour, contact admin@fairfields.herts.sch.uk or 01992 633195. Rosedale Way becomes congested at the start and end of the day; parents cannot park on school premises, so allow time to park and walk.
Children qualify for 15 hours of free early education from the term after their third birthday. Fairfields has September, January and April intakes.
The options are five mornings from 8:45am to 11:45am, five afternoons from 12:15pm to 3:15pm, or the 30-hour pattern from 8:45am to 3:15pm.
Yes. Night Owlets runs from 3:15pm to 4:25pm in the Littlefields Nursery building, staffed by early years teaching assistants.
The 30-hour provision includes a free lunch club. Children can have a purchased school meal or bring a packed lunch.
No. Families must apply separately for Reception through Hertfordshire County Council and meet the relevant entry-year deadline.
