Elmridge Primary School Nursery

Stories, rhymes and solving problems together give Elmridge’s early years provision its clearest character. The nursery class welcomes children from age 3 upwards and belongs to Elmridge Primary School in Hale Barns. It is a school nursery, with nursery applications handled directly by the school.

At the Ofsted inspection on 28 and 29 November 2023, early years provision was graded Good. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision, rather than giving the nursery a separate rating. For parents considering this first stage of school life, the relevant picture is of children learning alongside one another, with books and spoken language part of their experience.

Learning has a planned sequence. In November 2023, the curriculum included early years and organised knowledge so that children could build on what they had learned. In plain parent language, this means learning has a progression: new ideas are connected to earlier teaching rather than treated as isolated activities.

Stories and rhymes provide a concrete example of that early learning. Children in early years enjoyed listening to both in November 2023. These experiences give the day a language focus, with listening to a story and hearing rhymes forming part of children’s introduction to books.

Cooperation is another specific feature. During that same period, early years children tackled problems together, putting the school’s value of collaboration into practice. The implication is practical: learning involves working with other children as well as developing individual knowledge. For a parent choosing a nursery, that combination of shared problem solving and enjoyment of stories is more useful than a broad promise about preparation for school.

Social learning includes understanding behaviour. In November 2023, early years children could distinguish right from wrong. Alongside the examples of children solving problems jointly, this gives a concrete picture of the social side of their education: learning how to work with others and recognise acceptable behaviour.

These early years findings are relevant to families weighing the nursery’s role in their child’s first experience of group learning. Cooperation and an understanding of behaviour belong alongside the curriculum, rather than being separate from it.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through Trafford Council’s admissions team and meet the council’s deadline for their child’s entry year. Nursery applications go to the school; Reception applications follow the council route.

Keep those two steps distinct when planning ahead. A nursery place is the arrangement for this stage of your child’s education, and the Reception application is another task to complete. Applying to the nursery does not replace that later application.

The school office can arrange a school tour by appointment on 0161 980 4941. Nursery admission is handled by the school, with an application form provided for families.

Elmridge’s address is Wilton Drive, Hale Barns, Altrincham, WA15 0JF. For nursery enquiries, contact the office by telephone or email admin@eps.bright-futures.co.uk. A booked tour gives families a direct way to explore the school before deciding whether to apply for the nursery class.