Bollington Bears Preschool at Little Bollington CofE Primary School

A purpose-built early years room, outdoor play and a place in Class 1 give Bollington Bears Preschool its character: nursery life is part of the school day here. The provision opened in September 2023 for three-year-olds, with preschool children sharing Class 1 with Reception children. It belongs to Little Bollington CofE Primary School on Lymm Road, Little Bollington.

A qualified early years teacher leads the provision, supported by practitioners and teaching assistants. Children can use the school hall, outdoor play area and school equipment, so their surroundings extend beyond the classroom. In the inspection held in May and June 2024, Ofsted judged early years provision Good. That judgement covers the school's early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Play shapes the learning. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings learning, development, health and safety together; here, children explore through practical play inside and outside. Planning responds to their interests and ideas, giving them a part in deciding what to explore. Adults develop that exploration through questions and suggestions about resources.

The purpose-built EYFS room provides the classroom base, while access to the outdoor play area and hall creates opportunities to use other school spaces. Preschool children also take part in wider school activities. This is a nursery day connected to the surrounding school, with indoor and outdoor learning throughout the day.

Communication and growing independence stood out in the nursery experience during the May and June 2024 inspection. Children confidently contributed ideas and listened to others. Their existing experiences and knowledge provided starting points for learning, while staff supported personal and social development from nursery entry. For parents, the emphasis is on learning to participate as well as learning new things.

Progress is followed individually. Each child has a week every half term when practitioners concentrate on observing their development and recording what should come next. Those next steps are shared with parents, creating a specific basis for discussing the child's learning rather than relying solely on general updates.

Support also connects early years with the wider school team. The EYFS lead, SENCo, headteacher and mental health lead discuss children and concerns at termly progress meetings. The school's SEND team works with children and families, and parents can contact it at senco@littlebollington.cheshire.sch.uk. That gives families a direct route into discussions about additional needs.

Attending Bollington Bears does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply separately for Reception through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. Treat choosing a nursery place and applying for Reception as two separate decisions.

Day-to-day familiarity is a different matter. Preschool and Reception children share Class 1, and nursery children participate in wider school activities. These arrangements introduce the school setting before the next stage; they should not be read as an admissions entitlement.

The nursery day starts at 8:50am. A half-day place ends at noon, while full-day collection is at 3:30pm. Those two patterns let families choose between a morning and the longer school day. The preschool accepts funding for three- and four-year-olds.

Uniform applies from preschool onwards. Gold polo shirts, royal blue sweatshirts or cardigans, grey trousers or skirts and black shoes form the clothing choices; a blue gingham dress is an option in summer. Label clothing so it can be identified.

For preschool enquiries, email admin@littlebollington.cheshire.sch.uk. The school office can also be reached on 01565 830 344.