Queensbridge Primary School Nursery Review

Paint, movement and family stories give Queensbridge’s nursery its character. This is a nursery class within Queensbridge Primary School in Farnworth, with 52 places split between morning and afternoon groups of 26. Children join at the start of a term, with funded childcare beginning from the term after their third birthday.

The nursery has a teacher who also holds the lead nursery practitioner role. At the Ofsted inspection on 18 and 19 July 2023, early years provision was graded Good within the school inspection. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision rather than a separately inspected nursery.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together learning about the world, creative expression and physical development. Here, nursery activities include exploring materials, painting and making marks. Children also practise cutting paper with scissors. These are practical ways to develop hand control while giving children something of their own to create.

Movement has a place alongside making. Nursery PE includes dance and gymnastics, with stability and locomotion also planned: learning to balance and move forms part of the curriculum. The EYFS playground has balance bikes and tricycles, giving physical learning a concrete outdoor setting.

Music introduces children to their singing voice and to differences in speed, pitch and volume. Find my Singing Voice and Recognising Sound are named EYFS themes. Listening and experimenting with sound sit alongside nursery history learning about children’s own lives and their families. The starting point is something familiar to the child.

In July 2023, children in early years settled promptly and developed trusting connections with adults and other children. For families facing a first separation, those relationships matter as much as the learning activities.

Across Queensbridge, staff prepare children for changes and use positive language to explain expectations. Be Safe, Be Caring and Be Ready are the school rules. Parents can raise concerns with the class teacher or headteacher, giving families a direct route for discussing their child’s welfare.

Inclusion has a specific nursery provision: one place is for a child with profound and multiple learning difficulties. The school says it will adjust provision for pupils with SEND and involve parents in planning support. Its approach includes anticipating the needs of prospective pupils with disabilities, so support planning can begin before admission.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place and does not confer priority under the stated admission criteria. Families must make a separate Reception application through Bolton Local Authority, which allocates places. Treat this as a separate decision and application, even if your child already attends the nursery.

Familiarisation is a different matter. Before school admission, new entrants and their parents are invited to meet the teacher and see the classroom. A June meeting also gives parents an opportunity to discuss starting school with staff. These arrangements help families prepare; they do not change the allocation of places.

Morning and afternoon attendance are the nursery’s two session patterns. Places are offered by age. The funded entitlement is 15 hours each week from the term after a child turns three; eligible families can receive an additional 15 hours, bringing the total to 30.

For nursery enquiries, contact the school business manager through the office on 01204 332577 or email office@queensbridge.bolton.sch.uk. Queensbridge is on St Germain Street, Farnworth, Bolton, BL4 7BL.