School Tour
Reception Intake '25
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Frequently Asked Questions - Reception 2025 intake
Our website has a wealth of information about the day-to-day running of our school and lots of information about our curriculum and teaching and learning at Nelmes.
Below is a number of questions we are often asked on the tours with links to further details. We hope these answer your questions and queries and give you a flavour of our Outstanding school.
How can I help my child be ready for starting Primary school?
There are a number of areas parents/carers can focus on over the coming year to help their child be ready for starting school. Focusing on independence skills, language development, social skills and speaking and listening is a good start.
What is your admission process for Nelmes Primary School?
Havering Council [Local authority] is the admission authority for all community schools in the London Borough of Havering. This means that it is the council’s responsibility to set the admissions criteria and make the decisions as to which children are admitted to this school. Click here for more information.
If your child receives a place at Nelmes Primary school and you have another child at another primary school, they would not automatically be offered a place here. We have waiting lists for all year groups and are full across the school.
Do you stagger the intake for children starting in Reception, in September?
We stagger the intake for our Reception children starting in September. This allows us to settle the children one group at a time and gives the staff the chance to get to know your children. We stagger the children over 3 weeks and we begin with the oldest children coming in to school first. Your child’s start date and time cannot be changed.
Do you have a breakfast and after school club?
We do have this provision, run by our fantastic outside provider – Funzone. Please follow this link for further information around timings, payment and availability of places. Click here for more information.
If your child is offered a place at Nelmes and you wish to use this provision, you will need to directly contact the provider.
What do you have in place for lunches?
Children can bring a packed lunch to school or order a meal from our provider, Havering Catering Services. Children in the infants [Reception, Year 1 and Year 2] are entitled to the universal free school meal. Click here for to view an example menu.
Children, where families are in receipt of some benefits, are also entitled to Free school meals and we can support families in ensuring they receive this, when their child starts school. We expect packed lunches to be healthy so therefore we do not allow sweets, chocolate bars, fizzy drinks etc Children should also bring a water bottle to school and a healthy snack for break, if you wish. All items from home must be labelled with your child’s name.
How do you support children with SEND [special educational needs and disabilities]
We support children with SEND through our own school provision by making necessary adjustments to our curriculum and resources. If your child has an EHCP [Educational Health Care Plan] then they would receive support in line with this plan. Please follow this link for our school and local authority SEND offer. Click here to view the school's information report
Our school has a SEND unit - The Rainbow. All admissions and enquires must go through Havering Local Authority SEND. The SEND unit is for non-verbal ASD pupils or those with social communication issues and is separate in admissions to the mainstream school.
How do you support children with medical needs?
We have a number of children in the school who have some medical needs such as children with asthma, allergies etc. Where a child has a specific medical need such as a nut allergy, the nurse in conjunction with the school and parents will write an individual Health Care Plan for staff to follow. All our menus are nut free and we ask that parents do not send their children to school with food containing nuts.
How do you safeguard children?
We have a designated safeguarding team and clear policies and procedures in place to keep children safe and identify children and families who may need additional support and intervention Click here to find out more about safeguarding at Nelmes Primary.
What is your curriculum?
We follow the Early Years curriculum for our Reception children and the National Curriculum from Year 1 to Year 6. The curriculum in Reception is one that is based around continuous provision with adult and child led activities throughout the day, planned using a topic based approach. Please follow the link for a detailed information about the different subject areas and our whole school approach to teaching and learning. Click here to learn more about our Reception Curriculum.
How do you share information with parents about their children’s learning and progress?
We have parent consultations in the autumn and spring term. In the summer term parents receive a detailed report about their child’s progress and attainment over the year.
Parents can speak with staff over the course of the year and staff often contact parents if they have any areas to discuss and there are a number of work shops and presentations throughout the year that provide parents/carers with more curriculum information and how parents/carers can further support their children.
Do you provide extracurricular activities?
Over the years, we have provided a range of extra-curricular activities, which take place during lunchtime or after school. We have offered; infant choir, junior choir, book club, and we offer a wide range of seasonal sporting clubs also. The clubs generally run by class teachers or our sports’ coach and different age ranges targeted for these clubs.
Do you provide instrument music lessons?
Music is part of the national curriculum however we have music teachers who come to school for instrumental lessons. This service is provided through Havering Music School and is an additional cost to parents.
Do the children wear uniform?
We have a school uniform which we expect all children to wear. Much of the school uniform can be purchased from the school, on line. Click here for more information.
What are the school times?
School times 8:45- 3:15 for the main school. The SEND unit has separate timings.
What is your Ofsted rating?
We were inspected on the 1st and 2nd October 2024 and we were judged to outstanding in all areas. Please follow the below links for our school report and pupil outcome information
Click here to view our latest Ofsted report
Click here to view our pupil outcome information
We hope the FAQs have been helpful but if you have any further questions not covered by these or our website please contact the school office and a member of staff will return your call/email as soon as we can.
Mrs Cooper and the team.
