Nursery and EYFS
EYFS Provision at Bawdsey School
At Bawdsey Primary, Early Years is where curiosity leads and learning follows. We create irresistible environments and deliver expert interactions that secure foundational skills for every child. Our provision balances explicit teaching with discovery, ensuring each child builds confidence, independence, and a love for learning. Grounded in autonomy, integrity, and partnership, we ensure every child thrives, every voice is heard, and every potential is realised.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the national framework that guides the learning, development, and care of children from birth to five years old.
At Bawdsey Primary School, we are proud to offer Nursery provision for children from the age of 2. Children typically begin their Reception year in the academic year they turn five. While compulsory schooling officially starts at the beginning of the term following a child's fifth birthday, we encourage all children to begin their Reception year in September to ensure they benefit fully from the experiences and routines of the full academic year.
Admissions into our Foundation Stage follow both our school's Nursery Admissions Policy and Suffolk County Council’s guidelines for Reception places. While we understand that some families may request part-time or deferred starts, these requests must be discussed with and approved by the Headteacher and the Governing Body.
Bawdsey Primary is proud to be part of the Tilian Partnership, a high-performing primary Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) based in Suffolk. The Tilian vision 'Inspire to Achieve and Aspire to Excel' guides our practice in the Early Years.
'Inspire to Achieve'
At Bawdsey Primary, our Early Years environment is designed to spark joy and curiosity. We believe that learning flourishes when children are surrounded by engaging spaces, passionate adults who model storytelling and exploration, and interactions that deepen thinking and imagination. We celebrate effort, resilience, and creativity, nurturing each child’s unique strengths. Our teaching is rooted in children's interests and real, purposeful contexts, ensuring that every learning experience is meaningful and memorable.
'Aspire to Excel'
We hold high expectations for all learners and are committed to ensuring they receive the support and challenge they need to thrive. Through precise, focused teaching of essential skills and a deep emphasis on understanding core concepts—not just surface knowledge—we aim to build strong, lasting foundations. Our approach is reflective and grounded in evidence-informed practice, continually evolving to meet the needs of our children. We promote a culture of ownership, curiosity, and mastery, empowering each child to take pride in their learning and grow with confidence.
Our Learning
Our EYFS curriculum is thematic and book-led, designed to inspire curiosity, engagement, and a lifelong love of learning. Each unit is framed around a 'Sparkly Start'—a central focus that captures the children's imagination and provides a clear purpose for learning.
Our curriculum is thoughtfully structured to provide every child with meaningful opportunities to develop and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and characteristics that form strong foundations for future learning. Our passionate teaching team works collaboratively across key stages to ensure that learning is carefully planned and sequenced, supporting each child's progression with precision and care.
Nursery Admissions:
We are pleased to offer nursery places for up to 30 hours per week, with part of this provision funded by the Local Education Authority (LEA). From the term following a child’s third birthday, all families are eligible for 15 hours of funded nursery provision per week. For example, if a child is born in October 2018, their LEA-funded hours would begin at the start of the January 2022 term. However, if a child starts nursery immediately after their third birthday, Bawdsey Primary School is able to subsidise the period between the birthday and the start of the funding.
Families who wish to access more than the 15 funded hours are welcome to do so—up to a maximum of 30 hours per week—at no additional cost. These hours are delivered in 3-hour sessions, offered as:
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Morning sessions: 8:45am – 11:45am
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Afternoon sessions: 12:15pm – 3:15pm
Children attending afternoon sessions are welcome to bring a packed lunch or purchase a school meal.
Application forms to secure a nursery place for the 15 funded hours (from the term following a child's third birthday) are available from the school office. Completed forms should be returned to the school for consideration.
Please note that families may choose to split their 15 hours of funded provision across different providers, if preferred. For children aged 2, places are available subject to approval by the Governing Body, in line with our admissions policy.
If you require additional hours—either to cover the period between a child’s third birthday and the start of funded provision, or to access more than 15 hours per week—an additional form will be required.
Nursery Admissions policy Application form for admission to a nursery class