Bearwood Primary School Nursery Review

Stories become play in Bearwood’s Brown Bears nursery class: children act out books, explore new vocabulary and borrow reading to share at home. This is the nursery within Bearwood Primary School in Sindlesham, with entry from the term following a child’s third birthday. It belongs to the school’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), whose setting occupies a Grade II listed building.

Language is a clear strength. At the June 2024 inspection, Ofsted identified effective adult-child conversations that helped early-years children develop their language, alongside children’s ability to take turns and explain their emotions. Those are useful foundations for joining group activities and making needs understood.

Adult-guided activities combine with uninterrupted play chosen by children. Indoor and outdoor learning happen daily, while phonics and maths have structured sessions alongside freer exploration. Learning happens in small groups and whole-class sessions, with adults supporting and extending children’s play. The balance gives children time to pursue an interest as well as practise something new.

The EYFS covers seven connected areas. Speaking, listening, movement and relationships provide the foundations; early literacy, number work, exploring the world and creative activities extend them. Nursery maths uses practical tasks involving counting, shapes and measurement. Art, music, dance and pretend play give children other ways to express ideas.

Books shape the activities. Role-play spaces let children recreate stories they have heard, and the class library extends that experience into family reading. An emergent writing approach encourages children to attempt writing independently each day, with adults choosing the next teaching step from what each child produces. Learning through mistakes and trying again is part of the nursery’s approach to independence.

There is a curriculum caveat. The June 2024 inspection identified weaknesses across the school in sequencing some wider subjects and using assessment consistently, within a curriculum extending from Nursery onwards. These were school-level concerns rather than findings assigned specifically to the nursery; they matter when considering how learning builds over time.

Settling begins with a telephone conversation with the nursery teacher before the child starts, giving parents space to discuss concerns. Parent and child are also invited to visit before starting. Seesaw records learning highlights, and parents can contribute observations from home, connecting what adults see in nursery with interests and achievements elsewhere.

Daily fruit and milk for under-fives support the snack routine. Families should flag milk intolerance or opt out if needed. Children using Lunch Club can bring food from home or have a meal supplied by Innovate. Packed lunches must exclude nuts, and grapes need cutting lengthways in half. These rules address allergies and choking risks.

Toilet training is expected before starting, with exceptions for children with particular special needs or a medical condition. For additional learning needs, the school uses individual support plans reviewed with parents three times annually. Parents can raise concerns with the teacher or reach the SENCO through the office, providing a route for discussing adjustments.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place at Bearwood. Families must make a separate application through Wokingham Local Authority’s Admissions Department. Treat that application as a distinct step, even when a child already knows the school.

Preparation within nursery focuses on practical readiness: adults demonstrate sharing and turn-taking, while play and stories help children develop relationships and understand behaviour. This preparation supports the child’s next stage; it does not secure admission.

The booking pattern is five sessions each week, choosing mornings, afternoons or all-day attendance. Morning sessions run from 8:45am to 11:45am; afternoons run from 12:15pm to 3:15pm. Lunch Club bridges the gap from 11:45am to 12:15pm. Bearwood offers 15-hour and 30-hour provision; eligible families using the latter must supply their eligibility code and use the charged Lunch Club. Obtain current charges from the school.

Funtastic Kids provides additional care around the nursery day on site. Enquiries and application-form requests go through the school office at admin@bearwood-pri.wokingham.sch.uk. Winter nursery uniform includes navy tracksuit bottoms, a white polo shirt and the school sweatshirt or cardigan; a navy puddle suit is required throughout the year. Children must be handed directly to nursery staff by a responsible adult. Tell staff about alternative collectors, supplying a password when the collector is unfamiliar to them.