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Nursery at Little Munden Church of England Voluntary Controlled 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Acorn Class brings nursery children and Reception children together within Little Munden’s Church of England primary school. This is a school-based start for three and four year olds on Church Lane in Dane End, near Ware, with countryside surroundings and a day organised around school hours.
Teachers work alongside classroom assistants. The nursery describes a creative curriculum, with work adapted to each child’s ability. For families choosing this provision, the shared Acorn class is its defining feature: nursery belongs within the school’s early years provision.
Outdoor time is part of the routine in every weather. Acorn children keep named wellies at school, and suitable coats and other outdoor clothing are needed throughout the year. This makes getting dressed for outdoor activity a practical part of preparing for the day. Indoors, cloakroom space limits bag size: a book bag or messenger-style bag should accommodate an A4 folder, and children should carry their own belongings.
Little Munden describes its approach as creative and tailored to individual ability, rather than expecting identical work from each child.
There are curriculum cautions to weigh. At the inspection on 2 February 2023, some early years plans lacked precision about the knowledge children should learn, leading to differences in teaching and assessment. Early years activities also gave children inconsistent opportunities to practise their learning. The improvement priorities were clearer learning goals and appropriately challenging activities linked more closely to those goals. These concerns matter when judging how play and tasks help children remember and use new learning.
Nursery children receive a daily fruit or vegetable snack through the Schools Fruit & Vegetable Scheme. Food brought from home must contain no nuts, and grapes should be halved. Children also need a named, clear bottle containing water. These are practical requirements for packing each morning.
For sessions including lunch, the arrangements introduced in April 2021 allowed either a packed lunch from home or a Herts Catering meal, with school meals charged separately.
Parents can arrange a conversation with the class teacher through the office, either by telephone or face to face. A parent discussion form is requested beforehand, helping the teacher prepare. For families of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), Little Munden shares DSPL3 information about parent training, webinars and local coffee mornings, giving parents routes to support beyond the classroom.
Attending this nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply separately through the normal Reception admissions process; Herts County Council manages the school’s Reception admissions. Keep that application separate from choosing nursery sessions.
Nursery and Reception children share Acorn Class, but that classroom arrangement does not secure admission to the next year group.
The April 2021 arrangements offered four Monday-to-Friday patterns, all starting at 8.50am: a morning ending at 11.50am, a morning with lunchtime care ending at 12.50pm, a longer day ending at 2.50pm, and an extended option ending at 3.15pm. Treat these as dated arrangements when planning childcare.
Those arrangements provided 15 funded hours, with an additional 15 for eligible families. The longer funded options required an eligibility code, reconfirmed every three months or as required. Lunchtime care added to the morning option and the final 25 minutes of extended care attracted additional charges. Contact the school for current charges.
School dates follow Hertfordshire’s term calendar, with 5 INSET days and 1 Occasional day each academic year when children do not attend. Check those dates before arranging childcare: they are set during the summer term for the following school year.
Early Start Club accepts nursery children from 7.45am to 8.45am, with crafts, games and board games. An unbooked place depends on capacity, so telephone first. To arrange a personalised visit, call 01920 438271, option 2. Notify staff if someone different will collect your child. Parking is prohibited in the school car park and entrance, so allow time for collection on Church Lane.
The nursery provision is for three and four year olds within Acorn Class.
No. A separate Reception application is required through the normal process managed by Herts County Council.
Four weekday options started at 8.50am and finished at 11.50am, 12.50pm, 2.50pm or 3.15pm, depending on the chosen pattern.
Yes. It runs from 7.45am to 8.45am. Telephone before bringing a child who is not booked in, as a place depends on capacity.
Call 01920 438271, option 2, to arrange a personalised visit.
