Welcome to Barnehurst Nursery!
Little Steps, Big Adventures!
Starting Nursery is a wonderful milestone in your child's early years, and we know how important it is to find somewhere they will feel happy, safe, loved and excited to learn.
At Barnehurst Nursery, we are proud to offer a warm, caring and stimulating environment where our youngest learners can explore, discover, make friends and grow in confidence.
We believe that every child is unique, and our dedicated team works hard to ensure that each child feels valued, supported and encouraged to develop a love of learning from the very beginning.
As part of the Federation of Barnehurst Schools, our Nursery offers children a wonderful introduction to school life, helping them build the foundations for a happy and successful learning journey.
We would love to welcome you and your little one to our Barnehurst family!
Our Nursery
Our purpose-built Nursery offers a bright, welcoming and engaging environment where children learn through play, exploration and exciting experiences.
Our experienced and caring staff encourage children to develop their independence, communication, friendships and confidence, while nurturing their natural curiosity about the world around them.
We understand that children develop at different stages and in different ways. Our approach ensures that every child is supported to learn, grow and flourish at their own pace.
Nursery Sessions
We offer a range of Nursery sessions to help meet the needs of our families, subject to availability and our admissions arrangements.
These include:
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Morning sessions 8:30-11:30am
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Afternoon sessions 12:30-3:30pm
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Full-day places 8:30 - 3:30pm
Our full-day places are initially offered to children eligible for 30 hours of funded childcare, with any remaining places allocated in accordance with our Nursery admissions criteria.
The number and type of places available may vary each year. Please contact our School Office if you would like further information about our Nursery sessions.
Applying for Nursery – September 2027
If your child was born between 1 September 2023 and 31 August 2024, they will normally be eligible to start at Barnehurst Nursery in September 2027.
Applications for Nursery places are managed by the London Borough of Bexley, rather than directly by the school.
Important Dates
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Applications open: 16 January 2027
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Closing date: 6 April 2027
We encourage families to apply within the published application period.
For further information about the admissions process and how to apply, please visit the London Borough of Bexley website. Apply for a Nursery Place – Bexley Council
Joining Nursery During the School Year
If you are interested in a Nursery place after the September intake, please contact our School Office.
Our friendly team will be happy to advise you about the admissions process and any possible availability.
Nursery Funding and Childcare Entitlements
We know that understanding Nursery funding can sometimes feel a little confusing, so we hope the following information helps.
15 Hours of Funded Nursery Education
All children aged 3 and 4 in England are entitled to 15 hours of funded early education each week, usually for 38 weeks of the year, from the term after their third birthday. This entitlement is available to all families, regardless of their employment or income.
30 Hours of Funded Childcare
Some families may also be eligible for 30 hours of funded childcare per week, depending on their circumstances.
To access the extended entitlement, parents and carers must meet the government's eligibility requirements and obtain a valid childcare eligibility code. Eligibility must also be reconfirmed when required.
You can find out more about funding, check your eligibility and apply for additional funded hours using the links below.
Check Your Childcare Funding Eligibility – GOV.UK
Additional Charges
Some optional extras or additional services may incur a charge.
Full details of any charges, what they cover and the available arrangements can be found in our Nursery information below.
If you have any questions about funded hours or additional charges, please speak to our School Office.
Come and See Our Nursery!
We'd Love to Meet You and Your Little One!
We believe the best way to discover what makes Barnehurst Nursery so special is to come and see us for yourself!
We warmly invite prospective parents and carers to visit our Nursery, explore our learning environment and meet members of our friendly team.
Our Nursery showarounds usually take place during February and March, giving families an opportunity to get a feel for Nursery life before applying for a place.
We look forward to welcoming you!
Starting Nursery – Helping Your Child Settle In
We understand that starting Nursery can be a big step, not just for children but for parents and carers too!
Some children will be eager to explore straight away, while others may need a little more time and reassurance. Both are completely normal, and our caring team understands that every child is different.
We work closely with families to help children feel safe, confident and comfortable as they begin their Nursery journey.
We want every child to feel that Barnehurst is somewhere they belong, where they can make friends, have fun and begin to develop their independence.
Further information about preparing for Nursery and helping your child settle in will be shared with families before their child starts.
Looking Ahead to Reception
We hope that your child's time at Barnehurst Nursery will be the beginning of a wonderful learning journey.
However, it is important to remember that a place at Barnehurst Nursery does not automatically guarantee a place in Reception at Barnehurst Infant School.
Reception applications are managed separately by the London Borough of Bexley, and children attending our Nursery do not receive additional priority for a Reception place.
All families wishing to apply for Reception must complete a separate application through the usual admissions process.
You can find full details in our Reception Admissions tab.
Your Child's Adventure Starts Here!
At Barnehurst Nursery, we believe that the early years should be filled with happiness, curiosity, laughter and exciting opportunities to learn.
We look forward to getting to know your child, celebrating their achievements and helping them take those important first steps towards becoming confident, independent and enthusiastic learners.
We can't wait to welcome you to Barnehurst Nursery!
The Barnehurst Federation is pleased to offer up to a 52 place purpose built nursery for children aged three and four. Children start at nursery the September before they start school. Applications for nursery are made through the London Borough of Bexley admissions team. More information on applying for a place is available here.
We currently offer 13 morning spaces, 13 afternoon spaces and 13 fulltime spaces. This might change each year.
If you are interested in an mid-year admission to nursery, please contact the school office, who will be able to advise you.
September 2027
If your child was born between 1 September 2023 and 31 August 2024, they will be eligible to apply for a place in our Nursery class. Applications for our school nursery will open during the Spring Term 2027 and are managed by the London Borough of Bexley.
We hold Nursery showarounds during February and March each year. Please sign up here : Eventbrite sign up
3 and 4 year-olds Nursery Entitlement
All 3 and 4-year-olds in England can get 570 hours of free early education or childcare per year, usually taken as 15 hours a week for up to 38 weeks of the year. Some 2-year-olds are also eligible:
- the funding is flexible and can be accessed at up to 2 childcare sites for up to 10 hours a day
- if 15 hours is too much for your child you do not have to use the full hours, this can be built up over time
- when you start your funded place, you will be asked to sign a parent agreement which states the terms and conditions of your child’s placement
- if there are no places you will need to re-apply at another setting
- if your child attends a school nursery there is no guarantee this will entitle them to a school place
3 and 4-year-old Extended 30 hours offer
Some 3 and 4-year-olds will be able to get 30 hours funded childcare or education.
The additional 15 hours of funded childcare is available for families where:
- both parents are working (or the sole parent is working in a lone-parent family)
- each parent earns at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the national minimum or living wage and less than £100,000 a year.
Full time places are offered initially to those eligible for 30 hours after that the school follows our oversubscrition criteria.
For children attending full time nursery please see here information about our chargable extras.
Find out when you can claim for 30 hours
Help paying for childcare: Childcare you can get help paying for ('approved childcare') - GOV.UK
Find out more and how to apply
