The King's School Nursery Review

City-centre surroundings and a site north of Worcester give King’s nursery provision two distinct settings. The foundation has two co-educational prep schools: King’s Hawford and King’s St Alban’s. Both have nursery classes, with early years provision for children aged two years and above. St Alban’s occupies buildings near the cathedral; Hawford lies four miles north of the city. Families are choosing between two school settings within the same foundation.

Exploration has a clear place in the early years day. At the November 2024 ISI inspection, activities matched children’s development, with independent discovery, attentive story listening and conversations with staff supporting learning. In parent terms, the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together learning to communicate, developing physical skills and building relationships through play and guided activities.

Daily phonics develops the beginnings of reading, while creative activities exercise the small hand movements children need for practical tasks. Adventurous play supports movement and emotional and social development. At Hawford, early years teachers respond to children’s interests during activities, giving children a part in shaping their learning.

Learning also reaches beyond classroom activities. Early years children meet visiting parents whose work includes veterinary nursing, the army and emergency medical care. These encounters introduce the people who help others. Singing for residents of a local nursing home, and decorating biscuits and cakes to share with them, turn kindness into something children can do.

At St Alban’s, Well-being Wednesday includes children in the EYFS. Dance, yoga and drawing give them ways to explore feelings through movement and creative activity. Hawford’s Kindergarten staffing includes a deputy manager with a Level 3 vocational qualification and practitioners with early years degrees, bringing different training routes into the team.

Support for special educational needs and disabilities begins with monitoring children’s development in the EYFS. Concerns about progress or needs are discussed with parents by the SENCO or class teacher. The support process moves through assessment, planning, putting help into practice and reviewing its effect, so parents have a role in deciding adjustments.

Individual support. Entry for children with SEND depends on the school being able to provide the required support and accommodate their needs on its site. Families should share relevant assessments and recommendations as part of registration, helping staff consider the child’s requirements from the outset.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Reception admission is a separate process. Check Reception application requirements and deadlines directly with the school. Choosing a nursery should therefore be a decision about the child’s nursery experience, with the next application treated separately.

Enquiries can go through the foundation’s contact form, selecting King’s Hawford or King’s St Alban’s as the school of interest. The foundation can also be reached on 01905 721700 or at info@ksw.org.uk. This gives families a direct starting point for a nursery enquiry. Contact the school for current charges.