The Westborough School Nursery Review

Stories, songs and growing independence give Westborough’s early years its character. In February 2024, children developed concentration through learning and play, while staff helped them become curious about their surroundings and comfortable with routines. These are useful foundations for a child’s first experience of education.

The nursery belongs to The Westborough School on Macdonald Avenue in Westcliff-on-Sea. Children can join, where possible, in the term following their third birthday. For 2025/26, the intended nursery admission was 52 across the year, with September accounting for most admissions. That figure describes the planned intake, rather than the number attending any individual session.

Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Outstanding at the inspection of 13 and 14 February 2024. This judgement covers early years across the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.

Language runs through the early years learning. In February 2024, animated storytelling helped children understand unfamiliar vocabulary and how stories unfold. Songs and rhymes gave them opportunities to practise pronunciation. For parents, these concrete activities show how communication develops through participation, alongside listening to adults.

Early mathematics was equally tangible: children counted objects and learned that removing some made the quantity smaller. Within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), these examples connect learning to things children can hear, say and handle.

Routines and independence also mattered. Staff helped children sustain their attention during both play and learning, and children developed positive attitudes through activities with friends. The emphasis was on building the habits needed to take part, as well as acquiring words and number knowledge.

Nursery assistants work within the teaching team alongside teaching assistants and learning support assistants. This places nursery provision within the school’s wider staffing structure.

For children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), the school SENDCo coordinates support in early years. The SENDCo and EYFS teacher involve parents when additional provision is needed, then use an assess, plan, do and review cycle. Support can involve health visitors, children’s centres and the local authority. Parents therefore have a role in deciding support, rather than simply receiving an outcome.

Westborough is a nut-free school because some children have severe reactions to nuts. Families need to respect that restriction when sending food.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the local authority’s normal admissions process, meeting the applicable deadline. For a September 2027 Reception start, applications can be submitted during autumn term 2026 through Southend Borough Council.

Transition planning for children with SEND takes individual needs into account. That support is a care arrangement, separate from the application and allocation of a school place.

Session pattern. For 2025/26, each child was offered 15 funded hours across five three-hour mornings, Monday to Friday. Afternoon sessions followed the same pattern if mornings were full. Families should distinguish that conditional afternoon arrangement from an unrestricted choice between sessions.

Visits and enquiries. Personal tours of the school and nursery can be arranged by calling 01702 349249. Nursery application forms are collected from the school office.

School calendar. Westborough’s term dates differ from those of other Southend schools. Check those dates when coordinating childcare or siblings’ schedules.