St John's Primary School Nursery Review

Worms wriggling in a container offer a telling glimpse of nursery learning at St John's: in February 2024, children watched them with quiet curiosity. Small discoveries have a place here. The nursery takes children from two years old, with provision for ages two to three and three to four within St John's Primary School in Knaphill, Woking.

The youngest children's provision occupies a converted building on the school grounds, with its own secure outdoor space. It operates under the school's leadership and governance. Ofsted judged early years provision Good at the inspection on 6 and 7 February 2024; that judgement covers the school's early years, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Exploration is part of the early years foundation stage (EYFS) here: adults select activities for young children to investigate. The February 2024 observations of children examining worms give that approach a concrete shape. Learning starts with something children can notice and explore.

Language has named teaching approaches alongside it. Word Aware guides vocabulary work in EYFS, including Concept Cat. Nursery children also begin Phase 1 of Letters and Sounds, working on recognising differences between sounds, rhyme and rhythm. This progresses towards joining sounds together orally and separating spoken words into sounds, giving families a clearer picture of what early preparation for reading involves.

Beyond nursery activities, children participate in school events including Healthy Living Week and Book Week. These bring the youngest children into shared school experiences. The secure outdoor area attached to the youngest children's building provides a separate place for play and learning outside.

Settling begins before regular attendance. Parents attend a preparation meeting, children have a Stay and Play session, and nursery staff make home visits. Meeting the team at home lets parents introduce their child in familiar surroundings. Entry then happens gradually, with children starting in small groups.

Contact continues through a learning letter each half term, alongside weekly school newsletters and a nursery notice board. The letter explains children's experiences across the learning areas, giving parents something specific to discuss with their child.

For additional needs, the school's SEND process brings parents, the class teacher and SENDCO together to assess needs and agree support, outcomes and a review date. Parents take part in reviewing progress and planning subsequent support. The school building is accessible to wheelchair users and has facilities for personal care, including accessible toilets.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through Surrey County Council. For the 2026 entry cycle, the closing date was 15 January 2026; that deadline has passed.

Preparation for an allocated Reception place is a separate matter. Children are invited to spend part of a morning in their future classroom during the preceding summer term, and parents attend a meeting about routines. The classroom visit offers familiarity before the change of class. It does not secure admission.

Butterflies Nursery has a 9:00am gate opening and 3:00pm collection. Ladybirds Nursery also opens its gates at 9:00am, with collection at noon. The different finishing times matter when planning childcare around work.

Three- and four-year-olds have a 15-hour funded early education entitlement; the nursery allows those hours across two and a half days, with full-time attendance also an option. Some two-year-olds qualify for 15 hours through Free Early Education for Two year olds (FEET).

Nursery applications go directly to the school. Prospective nursery parents can arrange a tour through the office on 01483 476450 or admin@stjohnsknaphill.co.uk, allowing families to meet the setting before applying.