Little Squirrels Nursery at Oasis Academy Broadoak

Songs, stories and conversation give Little Squirrels Nursery its character, with active play balanced by quieter group talk. This is Oasis Academy Broadoak’s nursery in Ashton-under-Lyne, offering 26 morning places for children aged three and four, with a longer day for those entitled to extended funding. It sits within a purpose-built primary school.

In the inspection published in February 2026, Ofsted judged early years to meet the expected standard. Children developed confidence alongside their learning. The qualification matters too: leaders needed more precise improvement priorities and stronger oversight to help children achieve across the curriculum.

Language runs through the learning. Staff use songs and rhymes, share stories and hold conversations with children, helping them acquire knowledge through familiar, repeatable activities. Teaching and play also introduce mathematical ideas. Together, teaching and play help children build foundations for future learning.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together learning and personal development. Here, Development Matters guides the approach alongside the EYFS framework: children’s communication, movement and relationships develop alongside early literacy, mathematics, creativity and understanding of their world. Play and exploration give children opportunities to follow interests and practise independence.

Within that approach, sensory activities enrich the learning environment. Indoor and outdoor play support physical development, while puzzles, small-world play and craft activities provide opportunities to practise control and coordination. Conversation and role play give children ways to express ideas. February 2026 findings also highlighted the value of quieter group discussions alongside physical activity, especially for younger nursery children.

Parents can follow significant learning observations through Tapestry and add experiences from home. That makes communication two-way: staff can connect what a child does at nursery with interests and learning elsewhere. In February 2026, links with families supported learning at home and helped staff begin identifying possible special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).

Speech and language support is a concrete part of the approach. On entry, every child receives an assessment from a specialist speech and language therapist, who supplies strategies and weekly support. Families can discuss individual needs with staff or the academy’s SEND coordinator, giving them a route into additional support.

Lunch can be a paid school meal or a healthy packed lunch; families may also send healthy snacks. Nursery children do not qualify for universal free school meals, so lunch needs its own place in family planning. Ask the school for current meal charges.

Attending Little Squirrels does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the Tameside Metropolitan Borough Admissions portal by the normal deadline. Choosing the nursery therefore leaves a further application to complete.

Learning observations have a separate purpose. Information shared through Tapestry helps new class teachers understand children’s learning and the support they need. That continuity supports the next step; it does not secure admission.

Morning sessions run from 8.50am to 11.50am. Children taking the eligible 30-hour offer finish at 3.15pm, extending the day beyond the morning session. The earlier collection time is a practical consideration for families organising work and childcare.

Three- and four-year-olds can take up to 15 funded hours from the term after their third birthday; some qualify for 30 hours. The longer nursery day depends on entitlement to that funding. Nursery applications go directly to the academy: complete the application form and email it to office@oasisbroadoak.org.