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Nursery at Wantage Church of England Primary School
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Chickens hatching in the nursery and a trip to Roves Farm give Wantage’s youngest children concrete things to investigate. Learning through play extends outdoors as well as indoors, making first-hand experience part of the nursery’s approach.
There are 30 places in each session, for children starting from the term after their third birthday. This is Wantage Church of England Primary School’s own nursery. A teacher manages the provision, with nursery nurses and teaching assistants making up the team. Families can choose morning, afternoon or whole-day sessions rather than one compulsory attendance pattern.
Play provides the starting point for learning. Development Matters guides the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum: in parent terms, this brings together talking, movement, relationships, early reading and writing, numbers, creativity and discovering how the world works. The nursery aims to develop persistence and concentration alongside these skills, encouraging children to tackle problems and learn from mistakes.
Indoor and outdoor experiences give children opportunities to explore through doing. Hatching chickens brings life cycles into the nursery itself; Roves Farm extends that learning beyond school. These are tangible examples of an approach built around experience, rather than simply being told about a subject. Tapestry Online Learning Journal records children’s learning, providing a continuing record of what they have been doing.
Relationships with children and families are part of the nursery’s stated approach to care. For children with special educational needs or disabilities, parents are consulted about additional or different help, and their knowledge of their child is valued. Identification, assessment and support follow the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice, giving families a defined framework for discussing their child’s needs.
For nursery children attending Butler Club, a familiar adult takes them to the Goodenough Room. This room is arranged for relaxation away from a formal classroom setting. Breakfast includes fruit, cereals, yoghurt and toast; an afternoon high-tea snack is served from 4pm. Dietary requirements can be accommodated. Children must be fully toilet trained to attend the club, a condition families need to factor into plans for a longer day.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Parents must make a separate application through their home local authority’s common application form; Oxfordshire County Council processes applications for the school. The normal deadline is mid-January.
For 2027–2028, the oversubscription criteria include a category for nursery children eligible for Pupil Premium. Attendance alone does not confer that priority, and this conditional category does not remove the need to apply separately. Pre-school visits take place during children’s final nursery term, organised by the primary school they will attend. Treat this preparation and the application process as two separate parts of moving on.
Morning sessions run from 8:45am to 11:45am, afternoons from noon to 3pm, and whole-day sessions from 8:45am to 2:45pm. Afternoon and whole-day sessions can extend to 3:15pm for an additional charge. Contact the school for current charges.
Eligible working parents may qualify for 30 funded hours each week, of which Wantage offers 18; the remaining 12 can be taken with another provider, whose details must be shared with the school. Families without eligibility for that entitlement are offered 15 hours, combined across mornings, afternoons or whole days. Additional sessions may be available on a casual termly basis. They are shared equally among parents eligible for 30 hours and allocated according to the admissions criteria.
Butler Club sessions are reserved and paid for ahead of attendance through Parent Pay. Its afternoon session ends at 5:15pm on Fridays and 6pm on other operating days. If the last day of term ends at 12:15pm, the after-school club does not run and families must collect children at 12:15pm. To arrange a nursery visit or obtain an application form, contact the school office on 01235 762396.
Children can start from the term after their third birthday. There are 30 places per session.
The EYFS curriculum covers language, relationships, physical development, literacy, mathematics, creativity and understanding the world. Nursery experiences include hatching chickens and a trip to Roves Farm.
No. A separate local authority application is required. For 2027–2028, a conditional oversubscription category applies to nursery children eligible for Pupil Premium; nursery attendance alone does not confer that priority.
Yes. Nursery children are taken to the Goodenough Room by a familiar staff member. Children must be fully toilet trained, and sessions are booked and paid for in advance through Parent Pay.
Contact the school office on 01235 762396 to arrange a visit.
