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Nursery at St James' Church of England Primary School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Gardens, polytunnels and guitar-led singing give this nursery a practical, expressive character. At St James' Church of England Primary School in Ashton-under-Lyne, children can grow food, explore music and begin learning alongside the wider school community.
The nursery caters for three and four year olds, with a planned admission number of 26 for 2026–2027. Its classroom is in the Foundation Stage Building. Families can choose morning attendance or agree a longer day, subject to capacity and staffing ratios. That distinction matters when matching nursery to a working day.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), supported by Development Matters, shapes learning. In parent terms, the starting points are learning to communicate, move confidently and manage feelings and relationships. Number, early literacy, creative expression and discovering how the world works develop alongside these foundations.
There is concrete activity behind that framework. School gardens and polytunnels provide opportunities to grow food, followed by cooking indoors. Each class has a gardening week every half term. From early years onwards, children also plant, harvest and cook produce from the school allotment, connecting food with the work involved in growing it.
Music brings singing and live guitar into early years through Tameside Music Service. EdStart coaches deliver an early-years sports lesson during the week, and nursery PE falls on Wednesday. Think Equal is the named programme used for early social and emotional learning, giving feelings and relationships a place alongside physical activity and creative work.
In November 2024, Ofsted found that nursery staff helped children share play, learn routines and engage with carefully selected stories. Conversation-rich teaching helped children become more confident about their next learning steps. These are useful foundations for participating in a group, rather than simply completing activities.
Before starting, successful applicants visit the nursery with their parents during the preceding term. This gives families time to become familiar with the setting together. Nursery and Reception families are also invited to summer-term events to get to know one another.
Contact continues through an autumn meeting about the class, a spring discussion of progress and a summer report. Teachers and support staff are usually available in the playground at the beginning and end of the day; longer conversations can be arranged by appointment.
For additional needs, the class teacher is the first contact, with the SEND coordinator overseeing support. The Assess, Plan, Do, Review cycle involves parents in agreeing goals and reviewing next steps. Speech and Language services and Educational Psychology are among the external services the school can involve with parental consent.
Children staying all day can have a school dinner or bring a packed lunch. Dolce supplies meals, with four main-course choices each day from a Halal kitchen. Families pre-order through School Grid, so lunch involves an advance choice rather than a decision made that morning.
Nursery attendance neither guarantees a Reception place nor gives priority under the 2027/28 oversubscription criteria. Families must apply separately. Tameside residents apply online to Tameside Local Authority; families living elsewhere apply through their home authority. For September 2027 entry, the closing date is 15 January 2027.
Familiarity is a separate matter. Summer moving-up time introduces children to their next classroom and teachers. It supports the change in routine, but does not alter how places are allocated.
Morning sessions run Monday to Friday, 8:40am–11:40am, providing 15 hours. The 30-hour full-time option runs 8:40am–3:00pm by agreement, dependent on school capacity and staff:pupil ratios. Doors open at 8:35am.
The universal 15-hour entitlement carries no additional charges for those hours. Eligible working parents can use the 30-hour entitlement; families can also request and pay for an additional 15 hours. School dinners for children staying all day are charged, with packed lunches an alternative. Donations may occasionally be requested for visits or visitors, with advance notice. Ask the school for current charges.
To enquire, join the nursery interest list or arrange a school visit, contact the office on 0161 330 2008 or email admin@sja.fa1.uk.
The nursery caters for three and four year olds. Funded early education begins from the term after a child's third birthday, and places are subject to availability.
Morning sessions run Monday to Friday from 8:40am to 11:40am. A 30-hour full-time option runs from 8:40am to 3:00pm by agreement, subject to capacity and staff:pupil ratios. Doors open at 8:35am.
Yes. Children staying all day can bring a packed lunch instead of having a charged school dinner.
No. It neither guarantees a place nor confers priority under the 2027/28 criteria. A separate application is required through the relevant local authority. The deadline for September 2027 entry is 15 January 2027.
Yes. Successful nursery applicants are invited to visit with their parents in the term before admission. Families can also arrange a school visit through the office.
