New Close Primary School Nursery Review

Learning to do things for themselves gives New Close’s early years provision its clearest character. In March 2022, staff understood children’s development and helped them become more independent in their learning. For parents, that points to preparation for the next stage through growing self-reliance.

The nursery forms part of New Close Primary School on Imber Road in Warminster. Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good following its inspection on 22 and 23 March 2022. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery inspection outcome.

Adult guidance and children’s independence worked together in March 2022. Early years staff provided effective help while encouraging children to rely increasingly on themselves. The practical implication is a balance between receiving support and developing the confidence to tackle learning independently, rather than depending on an adult at each step.

Handwashing also had an explicit place in early years teaching that month. This is a small but useful detail about everyday care: learning includes habits that children can use beyond a session, alongside preparation for their next stage of education.

A nursery lead teaching assistant is part of the staff team. Families also have access to the school’s special educational needs coordinator through office@newclose.wilts.sch.uk. These are distinct roles, giving parents a nursery-specific staff role and a contact for discussing additional learning needs.

New Close says it adjusts learning and provides support and suitable challenge to accommodate children’s different needs and abilities. For a family considering additional support, the useful focus is how those adjustments relate to their own child, rather than a general promise of inclusion.

Across the school, Operation Encompass connects staff with information from Wiltshire Police when pupils experience or witness domestic abuse. Police aim to notify the school before the following school day. This allows staff to prepare support, with decisions about discretion informed by whether the pupil knows about the incident.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route. Wiltshire residents apply through Wiltshire Council; families living elsewhere apply through their home local authority, including those planning a move, with an exception for service personnel.

For the September 2026 intake, the application deadline was midnight on 15 January 2026. That cycle is past. Keep the Reception application separate from nursery attendance when planning the next step.

For children with disabilities joining the school, transition involves discussion with parents, the child’s existing nursery or school and external agencies where appropriate. This concerns preparation and support, rather than an admissions advantage.

The school’s address is 30 Imber Road, Warminster, BA12 9JJ, and its telephone number is 01985 212304. School tours can be booked, giving families a direct way to explore the setting before making their decision.

For SEND discussions, the school office email provides the route to the coordinator. Keeping that conversation focused on a child’s individual needs makes the school’s stated approach to adjustments and support more useful to a family’s decision.