Townley Primary School Nursery Review

Children’s interests set the direction at Townley’s nursery: Planning in the Moment gives staff a way to build learning around what catches a child’s attention. This is the nursery provision within Townley Primary School in Christchurch. Children can join from age two, subject to numbers and staffing ratios.

Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good at its inspection on 29 and 30 March 2022. That judgement covers early years within the school.

Planning in the Moment works alongside the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), which brings together children’s learning and development. Communication, movement and relationships sit alongside early literacy, maths, creative expression and discovering how the world works. Staff respond to children’s interests while covering these areas, so an interest becomes a starting point for learning.

The activities span talking and listening, exploring materials, counting and investigating shapes. Art, role-play, dance and music give children ways to express ideas beyond words. Exploring people, places, technology and the environment forms part of understanding the world. Nursery assessment uses EYFS and Development Matters, with teachers assessing children’s development.

Curriculum clarity. In March 2022, early years teaching was generally well delivered, but learning about the world, including the past, sometimes lacked precision. Staff needed a clearer grasp of the vocabulary and ideas children should learn. This matters because following an interest still needs a clear learning purpose.

Relationships were a strength in March 2022. From the nursery stage, children formed close connections with their carers, and experiences supported their emotional and social needs. For a young child beginning group care, those relationships matter alongside the learning activities.

Fruit is provided for children across EYFS. For additional needs, the school’s inclusion policy covers access to the early years curriculum and involves parents in planning once a need is identified. Class teachers, the special educational needs coordinator, teaching assistants and specialist agencies contribute to support. Parents can contact the SEND coordinator through the school office, giving families a direct route to discuss their child’s needs.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place or confer priority under Townley’s listed oversubscription criteria. Families must make a separate application through Cambridgeshire County Council’s admissions process by the applicable deadline. Treat this as a separate step, even if your child already attends Townley Nursery.

Summer-term visits before starting school help children become familiar with school routines and their surroundings. Townley also works individually with parents during this transition. These activities support familiarity; they do not change the admissions decision.

For nursery enquiries, call the school office on 01354 638229. Entry from age two depends on both staffing ratios and numbers, so admission is conditional.

Funding follows a session model. From the term following a child’s third birthday, the school describes 15 funded hours as five nursery sessions each week over 38 weeks. Families return the funding forms with evidence of the child’s birth date; submitting them promptly matters because delays can affect funding payment. Eligible children can take up 30 funded hours through discussion with staff.

Paid sessions are invoiced monthly ahead of attendance, with bank-transfer payment expected within seven days. Families may instead pay ahead for a half term, and extra sessions can be paid for as used. Contact the school for current charges.

Booked absences. Pre-booked paid sessions remain chargeable when a child misses them, with reimbursement only if the child is in hospital. Keep that condition in mind when choosing a booking pattern.