Broadheath Primary School Nursery Review

Play, conversation and children’s own creative ideas give Broadheath’s nursery its character. English teaching starts in Nursery, while early-years art gives children scope to choose how they express themselves. This is provision for children aged three to four within Broadheath Primary School on Sinderland Road, Altrincham.

Entry is in September after a child’s third birthday. The nursery has morning and afternoon sessions, giving families two distinct parts of the day to plan around.

Language runs through the learning. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the curriculum framework, with listening, speaking and understanding developed through play. English is also taught daily from Nursery onwards. For a parent, that means communication is both a teaching focus and something children practise across their activities.

Little Wandle is the named scheme used from Nursery for early reading. Alongside this, Expressive Arts and Design gives early-years children opportunities to initiate their own artwork. These are different ways to participate: using language with others and expressing an idea creatively.

Books also connect learning with children’s home languages. Each classroom has multilingual texts, including books in two languages, so families’ languages have a physical presence in the learning space. Broadheath’s wider curriculum approach includes growth mindset and Broadheath Habits of Mind, encouraging children to consider challenges and think about how they learn.

Support for additional needs starts with identification and discussion with families. Broadheath’s SEND approach places particular emphasis on this in the early years, working with parents and involved agencies. Interventions can address speech and language or fine motor development, with the SEND coordinator monitoring provision and reviewing it against individual targets. The practical emphasis is on support matched to the child.

For communication across languages, the school has bilingual and multilingual staff, and both Class Dojo and its website can be translated. Teapot Talks bring parents and staff together for informal discussion, providing another opportunity for contact between home and school.

Food provision across the school includes lunches cooked on site and the option of bringing a packed lunch. My Evolve Hub handles advance meal orders. Cool Milk supplies milk for school and nursery children up to their fifth birthday, on a free or subsidised basis.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Trafford Borough Council using the normal Reception process and deadline. Treat this as a separate decision from choosing a nursery session.

Preparation for the next class is a different matter. Broadheath offers children a visit to the class they will join, and its July Moving Up day gives them a morning there before September. That provides a chance to become familiar with the next classroom; it does not secure admission.

Morning nursery runs from 8.45am until 11.45am; the afternoon runs from 12.30pm until 3.30pm. Nursery applications go directly to the school office. General enquiries can be made on 0161 928 4748 or by emailing admin@bps.trafford.sch.uk.

Uniform is optional for Nursery. The suggested clothing includes a white polo shirt, a jade sweatshirt or cardigan, and grey trousers, skirt or pinafore. Families can therefore choose whether to use the nursery uniform.

School-run wraparound provision is offered to all pupils through Early Birds and Owls’ Nest. Activities include gardening, baking and den making, alongside a quiet area for reading or reflection. Owls’ Nest collection is through the large car park beside the playing field. Contact the school for current charges.