Barons Court Primary School and Nursery: Nursery Review

Weekly nature walks and trips to the local beach give this nursery its distinctive character. The Wanderlust Nature Study curriculum makes the outdoors a starting point for questions, conversation and play, rather than simply a break between indoor activities.

At Barons Court Primary School and Nursery in Westcliff-on-Sea, nursery children form Phase 1. There are 60 part-time places for three- and four-year-olds, with up to 30 children in each session. Provision runs for 38 weeks of the year, giving families a term-time pattern.

The Wanderlust Nature Study supplies ideas that children can pursue in their own directions. Adults combine activities designed to teach particular skills with structured play and free play. That gives children both guidance and opportunities to decide what to explore.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together learning and everyday development. Here, that includes practising conversation and listening, managing feelings and relationships, and developing movement and self-care. Stories and rhymes sit alongside early writing; counting, patterns and shapes introduce mathematical thinking. Music, pretend play and creative materials give children other ways to express ideas. These are connected experiences, with talk and play supporting learning across the day.

Outdoor exploration is a recurring part of that approach. Children go on weekly nature walks and are encouraged to explore outside whatever the weather. Frequent Forest School sessions use the school's own outdoor setting, bringing practical experiences of the natural world into the nursery's surroundings.

Beach School takes small groups from the nursery's phase to the local coast. Children first explore their surroundings, with discussions about boundaries, hazards and safety forming part of the experience. Staff observe children's interests and use them to plan further learning. The beach becomes somewhere to investigate and ask questions, as well as somewhere to practise taking care of the environment.

For children needing additional help, the school's SEND approach includes targeted interventions and collaboration with health professionals, the local authority and Trust teams. Barons Court aims to identify support needs promptly. Families receive updates about their child's learning through the year, and the SENCO is a contact for discussing support. This gives parents a route into conversations about their child's individual needs.

Communication also includes school news emailed to families every two weeks. The office team handles enquiries and directs parents to the appropriate member of staff when concerns arise.

A separate application is essential. Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply again through the local authority's Single Application Form; Southend City Council allocates school places, and applications can be made online through its admissions service.

Transition activities are separate from that allocation process. Before September entry, parents and children are invited to a summer-term welcome meeting. Children spend a morning or afternoon with their home group teacher while parents have a short staff meeting. Reception normally begins with half days and lunchtimes during the first week, providing a staged introduction to school routines.

Morning sessions run from 8.45am to 11.45am; afternoons run from 12.30pm to 3.30pm. The nursery offers 15 funded hours in either pattern over 38 term-time weeks. Funding eligibility begins in the term after a child's third birthday, subject to the relevant birthday cut-off dates.

Nursery tours can be arranged by contacting the office on 01702 331356 or emailing info@baronscourt.lihtrust.uk. A tour offers families a practical opportunity to see the learning spaces before applying.

For outdoor activities, the school recommends keeping wellington boots at school and bringing suitable cold-weather clothing. All-in-one suits are supplied for outdoor learning. On beach days, children need water, spare socks and spare trousers or tights alongside their wellies, with a warm hat and gloves in cold weather or a sun hat in hot weather.