The Priory Parish CofE Primary School Nursery Review

A purpose-built classroom for two-year-olds and an outdoor mini racetrack give The Priory’s nursery a concrete identity: early learning through exploration, movement and talk. The nursery classroom was built in 2021; children start nursery from age two, while pre-school starts at three. Both sit within the school’s early-years provision, giving families distinct stages before formal schooling.

At the Ofsted inspection on 11 and 12 February 2025, early-years provision received a Good judgement. That judgement covers the school’s early years rather than a separately inspected nursery. The nursery-specific reading findings describe a beginning built around rhymes, singing and stories, rather than formal reading alone.

Stories shape the learning. Staff use them to organise teaching and the activities children can explore, with language and conversation running through the provision. For a young child, that means books connect with play rather than sitting apart from it. Pre-school continues this exploratory approach with a teacher experienced in early-years education.

The Early Years Foundation Stage, or EYFS, gives the curriculum its structure. Its initial priorities are physical development, communication, and children’s emotional and social development. Literacy, mathematics, creative expression and understanding the world build alongside these foundations. The school calls its approach RAISE, with vocabulary, remembering knowledge and using it central to its early-years planning.

Outdoors, children have sand and water activities, slides and play houses, alongside the mini racetrack and opportunities for role play. These give different starting points for movement, exploration and imaginative play. Outdoor breaks happen according to children’s needs in a separate area, rather than being confined to one fixed break.

In February 2025, early-years staff developed children’s speaking and listening successfully. Children also became familiar with routines, taking instructions and sharing equipment. Those are useful everyday foundations: expressing an idea, listening to another child and managing the change from one activity to another.

Each child has a key person. This adult builds a relationship with the child and family, keeps parents informed about progress and the next learning steps, and supports personal care, including medical needs and toileting. It gives families a defined relationship through which learning and care can be discussed together.

Snacks feature in both morning and afternoon sessions, and the nursery timetable includes a lunch period. ClassDojo carries school reminders, newsletters and events; parents can also exchange private messages with staff. Communication can therefore continue between conversations at school.

For concerns about special educational needs or disabilities, the first contact is the child’s class teacher, with the SENDCo involved when further support is needed. This gives parents a clear starting point for discussing their child’s needs.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as two decisions.

The school’s admissions page links to its policy for F2 and pre-school entry. Familiarity with the school should never be treated as a substitute for the Reception application.

Morning and afternoon sessions form the nursery day, with lunch between them. Early-years children use the Trinity Street gates and go directly to their rooms, a useful detail when planning drop-off.

Funding is offered for eligible two- and three-year-olds. The nursery page also links to eligibility information for 30 hours for three-year-olds; entitlement depends on meeting the relevant conditions. Discuss joining nursery or pre-school with the school office at schooloffice@thepriory.wirral.sch.uk or on 0151 647 7188.