Panshanger Primary School Nursery Review

A pond, a garden and play shaped by children’s interests give Panshanger’s nursery its character. This is the nursery class within Panshanger Primary School in Welwyn Garden City, forming part of its Foundation Stage. Families can choose between the school’s 15-hour and 30-hour attendance patterns.

Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 30 and 31 March 2023. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Play carries much of the learning. Topics provide a starting point, but activities change with children’s interests. Children can use both indoor and outdoor areas, with regular learning in the school garden and around the pond. This gives exploration a physical setting beyond the classroom.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines learning to communicate, manage feelings and move confidently with early literacy, maths, creativity and understanding the world. Here, children practise listening and speaking, build friendships and develop movement skills through practical activities. Number, measurement and shape are explored through doing; music, role-play and art give imagination room. Anima Phonics supports the beginnings of reading and writing, with reading materials matched to the scheme’s progression.

An April 2022 nursery topic shows how those strands can meet. Children planted beans and carrots, cared for them, and helped turn vegetables into soup for a snack. They also made fruit smoothies. Growing, preparing and tasting food connected learning about plants with practical skills and healthy choices. These are dated examples, rather than a fixed weekly programme.

In March 2023, children in early years followed routines, listened attentively and practised sharing and turn-taking. Early phonics learning was secure and developed quickly. Curriculum precision. Some subjects still needed clearer decisions about the knowledge and vocabulary children should learn, including in early years. For parents, that makes the sequence of learning a useful focus when discussing the nursery curriculum.

Panshanger aims to help children become more confident as they move from home into school and to build a partnership with families. Tapestry is the online learning journal, and parents can add contributions, connecting experiences at home with nursery learning.

Support includes nursery nurse roles within the school team. Parents can contact the SENDCo and Inclusion Leader through the office, or approach the Family Support Worker. The school also belongs to DSPL5, a local schools group, giving families a named connection to local support.

For meals, Hertfordshire Catering Limited supplies and cooks the school’s food. Families order through SchoolGrid; choices can be changed or cancelled before 8.45am on the day. The nursery’s soup-making and smoothie activities also show food being used as a learning experience.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Hertfordshire County Council’s normal admissions route at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/admissions and meet the deadline for their application cycle. Choosing the nursery and applying for Reception are separate decisions.

The hours introduced from September 2025 start at 8.40am. For the 15-hour pattern, children finish at 11.40am from Monday to Thursday and at noon on Friday. The 30-hour pattern ends at 3.20pm from Monday to Thursday, with a noon finish on Friday. A Friday extension until 2pm carries an additional charge. The shorter Friday needs its own childcare plan.

Parents can pay for provision or use a government entitlement code, subject to eligibility. Ask the school for current charges. Early Morning Club accepts nursery children from 7.45am and takes them to their classrooms for the start of the day.

To arrange a nursery visit, telephone 01707 328846. Uniform is optional in nursery; the school colours are navy blue and jade green. Children need indoor shoes, and clothes should be labelled.