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Nursery at Oxhey Nursery School
Last reviewed: July 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
A garden that children tend themselves gives Oxhey Nursery School much of its character: strawberries, carrots and potatoes become things to observe, harvest and eat. This is a maintained nursery school for children aged two to five, rather than a nursery class attached to a primary school. Ofsted's current listing records 84 pupils, while its November 2023 inspection confirmed that provision includes two-year-olds.
The school occupies its own Eastbury Road site in Oxhey. Children use activities indoors and outside, with the garden, a bug hotel and seasonal leaves all forming part of what inspectors saw.
Learning follows the early years foundation stage, which develops communication, physical skills, literacy, mathematics, understanding of the world, creativity and children's social and emotional confidence through purposeful play. Oxhey's plans break each area into small steps, with staff selecting important words and skills while responding to children's needs and interests.
Stories, songs and rhymes recur through the day. Children join repeated phrases in books, notice patterns in words, clap and march to rhythm, and dance to music. Cooking explores healthy eating, while the garden brings food and nature together. Inspectors also recorded visits to nearby shops and allotments, singing at a local care home, and visitors discussing their jobs. These are concrete experiences, not worksheet substitutes.
Key-worker relationships are central. The 2023 inspection found that children quickly form strong bonds with familiar adults, ask them for help and receive reassurance with difficult feelings. Clear routines and consistent expectations support both behaviour and independence, including learning to dress appropriately for a choice of play.
Communication extends beyond collection time. Staff share daily information to prompt conversations at home, make regular catch-up calls, and provide videos and resource packs. Families also share stories in home languages and contribute festivals and celebrations.
Inclusion is practical. Every child learns signs from the start, giving children another way to communicate worries. Children with special educational needs and disabilities receive planned support in small groups and alongside their peers, with adjustments to the curriculum where needed. Ofsted found safeguarding arrangements effective in November 2023.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Hertfordshire County Council states that families must make a separate Reception application even when a child attends a school's nursery class, and that some nursery children do not receive a place at that school's Reception. Applications for state primary places are made through the family's home local authority and assessed under the published admission rules. Nursery experiences such as building independence and concentration may support the move to school, but families still need to make the separate Reception application.
The school provides before-school and after-school care on site. Families should contact the school directly for current session patterns, availability, funded-place arrangements, any extras, and the collection routine before applying. This is important because the hours needed by one family may not match the attendance pattern currently offered.
The provision is for children aged two to five, and Ofsted confirms that it includes two-year-olds.
Children encounter stories, songs, rhythm, dancing, cooking, gardening and investigations of nature, alongside activities planned across the early years foundation stage.
Children learn signs from the start, while those with SEND receive planned support in small groups and with their peers; staff also adjust the curriculum to children's needs.
No. Families must apply separately for Reception through their home local authority, and nursery attendance does not guarantee a place.
Contact the school directly to confirm its current attendance patterns, wraparound provision, availability and funded-place arrangements before applying.
