Little Acorns Nursery at Oak Lodge Primary School

Two-year-olds can start at Little Acorns, with a choice of morning, afternoon or full-day funded patterns. This is Oak Lodge Primary School’s nursery in West Wickham, taking children aged 2 to 4. The practical distinction is the length of the day: eligible families can use either a three-hour session or the six-hour pattern, each running across five weekdays.

Learning in the foundation stage combines activities led by adults with opportunities children initiate themselves. Within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), science begins with concrete exploration: children investigate materials using their senses, notice changes and similarities, and ask how things work. Talking about discoveries is part of the learning, with recording introduced sometimes. The emphasis is on observing and explaining, giving children ways to connect an activity with their own ideas.

Stories and celebrations introduce religious education in the foundation stage. These provide a starting point for exploring other people’s beliefs and cultures, rather than treating learning as a collection of facts to memorise.

In October 2024, Ofsted found that the school’s early years curriculum established foundations for later learning, supported by an environment that encouraged engagement. That finding concerns the school’s early years provision; it is not a separate inspection judgement for Little Acorns.

Access to Little Acorns is governed by inclusion and equality: disability, race, gender and religion do not determine access to its childcare services, nor do parents’ beliefs or sexual orientation. For families, this sets an explicit expectation about how children will be welcomed.

Before attendance begins, parents provide their child’s birth certificate and sign both the parent contract and the terms and conditions. These are practical preparations for starting nursery, distinct from the process of securing a later school place.

Attending Little Acorns does not guarantee a Reception place at Oak Lodge. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet the deadline for their child’s intake. Treat that application as a separate task, even while your child is attending nursery.

School applications are handled through the local authority rather than submitted directly to Oak Lodge. Bromley manages the process for Bromley residents; families living elsewhere apply through their own local authority. Choosing the nursery therefore needs to work for your child’s present day, independently of the eventual Reception allocation.

Funded attendance runs Monday to Friday over 38 weeks. Eligible two-year-olds receiving working-family funding and eligible three- and four-year-olds receiving working-family funding have a 30-hour pattern, from 9:00am to 3:00pm on each of the five days. Together for 2’s funding and universal funding for three- and four-year-olds provide 15 hours, taken as five mornings from 9:00am to noon or five afternoons from noon to 3:00pm.

Little Acorns gives priority to children taking 30 hours. Requested arrangements are discussed when families register for funding, with accommodation dependent on availability and staffing. Optional extras include nursery-supplied nappies and wraparound provision; contact the school for current charges.

For nursery enquiries, email oaklodge@mslt.org.uk or telephone 020 8819 6996. The school office operates from 8:00am to 4:00pm during term time.