Walton Oak Primary School Nursery Review

An outdoor classroom for Early Years gives Walton Oak’s youngest learners a distinct space within the wider primary school. The nursery belongs to Walton Oak Primary School in Walton-on-Thames, on Ambleside Avenue. For families choosing a school nursery, that combination places early learning within a larger school setting while giving it an outdoor base of its own.

Emotional development is part of the school’s stated approach. Walton Oak follows six principles of nurture and says children’s emotional well-being comes first as a foundation for learning. This gives parents a useful picture of the school’s priorities alongside the practical nursery arrangements.

Books and number exploration are concrete features of early learning here. At the July 2023 inspection, early-years children heard stories selected to engage their imagination, while number work took place through both adult-led teaching and free-flow learning. That combination gives children opportunities to encounter ideas with an adult and explore them through their own choices.

The dedicated Early Years outdoor classroom adds another learning space beyond the classroom indoors. Its role matters for families who want outdoor learning to form part of their child’s school experience. It is an Early Years facility within a school that also has outdoor classrooms for Year 1, rather than a general playground being described as nursery provision.

Support for additional needs has a defined school structure. Teachers identify potential special educational needs through classroom assessments, with help from the inclusion team. Children who meet the SEN criteria receive an Individual Education Plan, and parents are invited to discuss it. This creates a specific point for families to contribute to decisions about their child’s learning.

Early Years support includes Makaton signing. Nursery access to part-time SEN teaching assistants is limited to afternoons, a practical distinction for families considering when their child will attend. The school also provides additional help with dietary requirements and toileting where needed, linking inclusion to everyday care as well as learning.

Referrals for speech and language assessment require parental consent. Together with access to the inclusion team, this gives parents a role in both school planning and the process of seeking specialist advice.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Surrey County Council’s coordinated primary admissions process, by January in the year their child starts Reception. Keep that application separate from arranging a nursery place.

For September 2025 entry, nursery attendance carried no oversubscription priority: the categories covered children in care or previously in care, qualifying staff children, siblings and other applicants. That was a past admissions cycle. The distinction remains essential when choosing the nursery: attending it and obtaining a Reception place are separate decisions.

Nursery tours for the 2026/27 intake take place on Fridays during term time, from 9.00 to 9.30. Book by calling 01932 259604. The school office can also be contacted at office.waltonoak@lumenlearningtrust.co.uk.

Care beyond the nursery session. Nursery children cannot attend Breakfast Club or After School Club. Families needing care around their nursery attendance will therefore need a separate arrangement.