The FMS Inspection Score is FindMySchool's proprietary analysis based on official Ofsted and ISI inspection reports. It converts ratings into a standardised 1–10 scale for fair comparison across all schools in England.
Disclaimer: The FMS Inspection Score is an independent analysis by FindMySchool. It is not endorsed by or affiliated with Ofsted or ISI. Always refer to the official Ofsted or ISI report for the full picture of a school’s inspection outcome.
Nursery at Griffin Park 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Sofas for sharing stories give Griffin Park’s early years a distinctive reading focus. In May 2022, children retold favourite tales together in the reading area, making books part of their social life as well as their learning. This is the school’s own nursery provision in Blackburn, with part-time places starting in the term after a child’s third birthday.
Ofsted judged early years provision Good at the inspection on 17 and 18 May 2022. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery.
The basic attendance pattern is five mornings or five afternoons, giving children a repeated session pattern across the week. Learning follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. Griffin Park plans learning around knowledge and skills for each stage, with themes revisited to help children remember what they have learned. For parents, the emphasis is on building learning over time rather than treating each activity as an isolated experience.
Reading provides the clearest picture of the early years day. In May 2022, children shared books on sofas and recounted stories to one another. They also learned letters and sounds daily, with reading books matching those sounds, helping them practise familiar learning. These findings concern early years collectively.
Classroom routines matter too. Children were settled and comfortable in their classrooms in May 2022, and remembered to walk inside. There was a curriculum caveat: a few subjects needed more detailed steps of knowledge. This was a wider curriculum concern, rather than a nursery-specific criticism.
Support for additional needs starts with involving parents when concerns arise. Individual programmes and extra help are arranged where needed, giving families a role in planning support. The school has a sensory room children can use during the day; its buildings are on one level, with access for children with physical needs.
Speech Link gives parents games and ideas for developing listening and language understanding at home, with no login required. This makes it a practical resource for families concerned about speech or communication.
A pastoral teacher works across the school with individual children and small groups on emotional and mental health needs, alongside support for families facing barriers to learning.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal primary admissions process, meeting its deadline. Blackburn with Darwen Local Authority manages that process, with applications made through blackburn.gov.uk/admissions or by paper form. Treat choosing nursery and applying for Reception as separate decisions.
The nursery offers 15 funded hours each week, taken as five morning sessions or five afternoon sessions. Paid additional sessions are also offered; contact the school office for current charges.
Eligible families can use the 30-hour funded offer. They must give the school a valid eligibility code and apply for it by the end of the month before a new term begins. Build that step into plans for starting nursery.
For nursery enquiries, call 01254 57724 or email office@griffinpark.blackburn.sch.uk. Names can be added to the nursery waiting list when a child is two.
Places start in the term after a child’s third birthday. Families can add a child’s name to the waiting list at age two.
They are taken as five morning sessions or five afternoon sessions each week.
Yes. Families must provide a valid eligibility code to the school and apply for it by the end of the month before the new term starts.
No. A separate application is required through Blackburn with Darwen’s normal primary admissions process.
Contact the school office to discuss your child’s needs with the SEND team. Parents are involved when concerns arise, with individual programmes and additional support where needed.
