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Nursery at The Wickford Church of England School
Last reviewed: October 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Letter sounds, construction materials and movement give Little Teds its educational character. This is the on-site pre-school at The Wickford Church of England School, for children aged 2 to 4, on Mount Road in Wickford. It sits within a school with a Christian character, which aims to combine learning with care, respect and spiritual development.
At the Ofsted inspection on 13 and 14 September 2023, early years provision received an Outstanding judgement. That judgement covers the school's early years provision rather than a separately inspected Little Teds nursery.
Early learning connects adult teaching with opportunities to practise through play. Within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), language, communication and literacy extend across the week's learning rather than belonging only to a separate English activity. Children encounter writing through guided work, small-group teaching, exploratory tasks and independent play. This gives them different ways to try out developing skills.
Reading begins with sounds. In September 2023, nursery children were learning letter sounds, giving them a starting point for understanding how written language works. Alongside this, early years construction work involves choosing materials, considering their properties and making something for a purpose. Children can change what they have made after considering how it works. Cutting, hole punching and sticking also provide practical experience of handling tools and materials.
Movement has both taught activities and opportunities during play. Early years PE includes games, gymnastics and dance, with attention to movement and awareness of space. Indoor and outdoor classrooms provide daily opportunities to practise larger movements and smaller hand movements. The emphasis also includes independence in looking after themselves, so physical development connects with everyday care skills.
The pre-school staffing structure includes a deputy room lead. Across the school, the head of school also holds the special educational needs coordinator role, linking school leadership with responsibility for SEND.
HEARTS Academy Trust aims to arrange additional educational support for children who need it. Its approach addresses learning and cognition, communication and interaction, sensory or physical needs, and social, emotional and mental health. For families, these categories provide a useful starting point for discussing the support their child needs. A trust counsellor also offers children and families appointments to discuss concerns or worries.
Attending Little Teds does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal Reception admissions process. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for school as two distinct decisions.
The application route is Essex County Council's online admissions service. For the September 2026 intake, applications opened on 10 November 2025 and closed on 15 January 2026; that cycle is now past. Late applications for that intake go directly to Essex. The nursery's educational preparation should therefore be considered separately from whether a school place is allocated.
Little Teds tours can be booked through the main school office, with both children and parents welcome. A tour with the pre-school team gives families a direct introduction to the provision.
Contact the office on 01268 733297 or email wickfordcofe.admin@heartsacademy.uk. The address is Mount Road, Wickford, Essex SS11 8HE. Office hours run from 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, giving families a clear daytime contact route.
The on-site pre-school caters for children aged 2 to 4.
No. Families must apply separately for Reception through the normal admissions process.
Nursery children learn letter sounds. The early years curriculum also includes construction, practical work with materials, movement and opportunities to practise skills through play.
Early years provision was judged Outstanding at the school's Ofsted inspection on 13 and 14 September 2023. This is an early years judgement within the school inspection.
Yes. Both are welcome on Little Teds tours. Contact the main office on 01268 733297 or wickfordcofe.admin@heartsacademy.uk to book.
