Holy Trinity Stacksteads Nursery Review

Keyworker activities bookend each session at Holy Trinity Stacksteads, with children choosing their own play between them and adults helping their learning along. That balance gives the nursery day a recognisable rhythm: time together, then room to explore.

The nursery belongs to Bacup Holy Trinity Stacksteads Church of England Primary School on Booth Road in Bacup. For September 2024 new starters, the nursery tour showed connected nursery and Reception rooms and an outdoor area, with a warning that the rooms might change in September. Ofsted judged early years provision Good at the inspection on 2 and 3 July 2024. This is the early years judgement within the school inspection.

Each session starts and finishes with an activity alongside the child's keyworker. Between those points, children direct their learning through play, with an adult offering guidance and working alongside them. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) takes concrete form here through conversation, creative exploration and physical activity.

Books and talk have a clear purpose. In July 2024, nursery staff developed children's spoken language and interest in books through conversations about stories and the things that interested them. Early years staff also used observations to extend children's understanding. Children encouraged their peers to contribute ideas during discussions, giving learning a social dimension as well as an individual one.

Creative work in the EYFS includes exploring drawing tools, making shapes and marks, and practising control with adult help. Printing, rubbings and rolling provide other ways to experiment, while collage introduces overlapping materials. These are practical opportunities to try an idea and see what happens.

Tuesday brings PE in the school hall; Thursday brings Forest School. On Mondays, children select a library book to take home. Busy Things activities also connect home learning with what children are doing in nursery.

An EYFS teacher and teaching assistants form the nursery team. Regular time with a keyworker gives children a repeated point of contact within each session. Children staying throughout the day have lunch between the morning and afternoon sessions.

For the September 2024 intake, families received email contact and a welcome meeting formed part of the starting arrangements. Parents can contact the early years team at eyfs@stacksteads.lancs.sch.uk.

Across the school, SEND support can include small-group work, preparation before teaching, assistive technology and input from speech and language or occupational therapy professionals. The school aims to develop SEND Support Plans with families and staff. Parents' first contact for concerns is their child's class teacher, with the SENCO overseeing provision. This gives families a clear starting point for discussing individual needs.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the deadline for their child's entry year.

Choosing the nursery should not be treated as securing a later school place.

Morning sessions run from 8:45am to 11:45am; afternoons run from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. A full day lasts from 8:45am to 3:30pm. Breakfast club extends the start to 7:30am, while after-school club runs until 5:45pm, giving families options beyond the nursery sessions.

Children need sportswear for Tuesday PE and a warm waterproof coat for Thursday Forest School. Initial enquiries go through the school office on 01706 877025 or contact@stacksteads.lancs.sch.uk. Further questions can also be discussed during a school visit.