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Nursery at Salesbury 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Outdoor curiosity and story sacks give Sunshine Nursery its character. This is Salesbury Church of England Primary School’s nursery class, welcoming children from the term following their third birthday, with both part-time and full-time places. It belongs to the school’s early years provision, while adapting the school’s curriculum for nursery children. Play is the starting point.
The nursery aims to help children feel secure, try unfamiliar experiences and develop respect for other people. For parents seeking an introduction to school life, that combination of play and participation is the central appeal.
A morning session begins at 9.00am. Nursery lunchtime runs from noon until 1.00pm, with children eating at noon; afternoon sessions and full days finish at 3.30pm. These give families clear points around which to organise the day.
Learning through play encourages children to practise skills and explore new experiences. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) takes shape here through stories, creative work, outdoor exploration and themed learning. For autumn 2026, Homes & Families is the early years history theme, with Habitats providing the science focus in October. Those topics connect learning with things young children can recognise and discuss.
Monster Phonics begins in nursery. Its sound-linked monsters and colour cues give children concrete ways to approach sounds. Building Story Sacks is a named nursery reading experience, making stories something children can help put together as well as hear.
Outside, nursery shares a play area with Reception. Early years children also use indoor and outdoor spaces for making and displaying artwork, so creative activity extends beyond a table inside. The annual Learning from the Land Week adds a school-wide focus on exploring and caring for the surrounding world.
Ofsted’s inspection on 12 and 13 July 2022 found that early years children achieved well over time and enjoyed stories and familiar rhymes. These are findings about early years within the school, rather than a separate nursery rating.
A classroom teacher works alongside teaching assistants in nursery. The weekly staffing pattern includes teachers sharing the week, support staff covering different days and an additional lunchtime member of the team. That makes lunchtime part of the staffing arrangement as well as the timetable.
Older children have a practical role in helping nursery children settle into school routines. Buddies from Years 5 and 6 help them learn their way around, support them during breaks and lunch, and join planned activities. Familiarity grows through these everyday contacts.
Parents can join a closed Sunshine class Facebook group restricted to families with children in the class. For additional needs, the school’s SENCO can be contacted at senco@salesbury.lancs.sch.uk. This gives families a direct route to discuss support.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal school admissions process and meet the applicable deadline. The school directs families towards Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen school admissions routes.
Shared outdoor space offers a useful connection with Reception before that change of class. Buddy activities also introduce nursery children to the wider school and its routines. These are opportunities to build familiarity; they do not secure an admission place.
Salesbury Sunflowers extends childcare from 7.45am until 5.45pm. School teaching assistants work in the club, alongside SportsCool coaches, and activities use the hall and outdoor facilities. Breakfast is included in the morning club, with a healthy snack after school.
Bookings can be made ahead, while a small allocation accommodates occasional use and irregular work patterns through Arbor. Holiday care on site accepts children aged 3 to 11, with bookings handled directly by the provider. Ask the school for current charges for optional extras and wraparound care.
Nursery clothing consists of blue joggers or leggings, a white T-shirt or polo and a red nursery-logo sweatshirt or cardigan. Nursery clothing also includes Velcro shoes, wellies, slippers and a hooded coat. Keeping spare clothes at school is useful for emergencies. Practical footwear supports children in managing changes of shoes themselves.
Children use the nursery gate for the morning session and leave through the nursery door at the end of an afternoon or full day. For nursery enquiries or to arrange a visit, contact the school office on 01254 244580 or email bursar@salesbury.lancs.sch.uk.
Children are welcomed from the term after they turn three. Full-time and part-time places are offered.
Morning sessions start at 9.00am. Afternoon sessions and full days end at 3.30pm. Nursery lunchtime is noon to 1.00pm.
No. Families must apply separately for Reception through the normal school admissions process.
Yes. Salesbury Sunflowers provides before-school and after-school care within a 7.45am to 5.45pm window, including breakfast in the morning and a healthy snack after school.
Call 01254 244580 to arrange a visit. Nursery admission enquiries can also be sent to bursar@salesbury.lancs.sch.uk.
