Rivington Foundation Primary School Nursery

Three adults work with children each day in Rivington’s small early years unit. That gives the nursery a clear identity within the primary school: a compact team, a designated key person and opportunities for parents to speak with any member of staff.

The maintained nursery is governed by the school’s governing body and takes three- and four-year-olds. Places normally cover the year before school starts, with earlier attendance possible when space permits. The school is on Horrobin Lane in Rivington.

Morning and afternoon sessions provide the basic rhythm, with a full-day option that includes eating lunch alongside the school’s older children. For families choosing a longer day, lunch is therefore part of school life rather than a separate nursery arrangement.

Learning follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Its seven areas cover how children communicate, move and manage relationships, alongside number, literacy, creativity and understanding their surroundings. In parent terms, the curriculum extends beyond early reading and counting: physical development and social confidence are part of the learning too.

An EYFS Classroom and EYFS Outdoor Area give the early years unit both indoor and outdoor spaces. These are concrete features to consider when judging whether the nursery suits a child who enjoys moving between different environments.

Creative work has included making Diva lamps while learning about Diwali in November 2019. That example brings together making things and exploring a festival, connecting expressive arts with understanding the world. It is a past activity, rather than a promise of the current session timetable.

Each child has a key person, while the small unit’s children work with all three staff members daily. Parents can raise questions or concerns with any of the team. The arrangement combines an identified contact with access to the other adults involved in a child’s day.

For children staying all day, a hot school lunch is an option with an additional charge. This needs to be considered alongside the chosen attendance pattern; families should obtain current charges from the school.

The school’s SEND support can include work in small groups or individually when children need extra help towards their targets. Families considering a place can arrange a meeting and tour with the headteacher or SENCo to discuss their child’s needs. This creates a practical opportunity to explain support requirements before joining.

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

Lancashire County Council handles the application route and decides the school’s admissions. For September 2026 entry, the closing date was 15 January 2026, which has now passed. Treat nursery attendance and the Reception application as two separate decisions; joining the nursery does not remove the need to apply again.

The morning session runs from 8:45am to noon; the afternoon runs from 1pm to 3:30pm. Hours are normally arranged across five days in morning or afternoon sessions, and the school confirms a child’s session details after allocating a place.

Funded provision covers 15 hours, or 30 hours for children who qualify, across 38 weeks. Funded hours can also incorporate Breakfast Club, starting at 7:30am, and Late-Stay, running from 3:30pm to 6:30pm. These options matter for families fitting nursery around work, although the allocated pattern needs to match their childcare needs.

Applications go directly to the school office. Contact bursar@rivington.lancs.sch.uk or telephone 01204 696951 for nursery enquiries. Visits can be arranged through the office, giving families a chance to discuss the provision in person.