Nursery at St Michael's CofE Primary School, Great Lever

Sunflowers has its own outdoor area and a purpose-built setting for two-year-olds; Snowdrops provides the nursery provision for three-year-olds. These are the two nursery groups at St Michael's CofE Primary School, Great Lever, on Green Lane in Bolton. Both are part of the school's early years provision, giving the youngest children a distinct starting point within the school.

Session choices differ by age group. Sunflowers provides morning or afternoon attendance for children eligible for 15 hours of funding, while eligible Snowdrops children can attend mornings, afternoons or full time.

The physical setting is a concrete attraction for Sunflowers families. Its purpose-built environment includes an outdoor area of its own, so provision for two-year-olds extends beyond the indoor space. That gives outdoor learning a place within their nursery setting.

Learning is planned from Nursery onwards within the school's curriculum. Knowledge, skills and vocabulary are organised in sequence, with opportunities to return to earlier learning. For parents, the useful distinction is that learning involves revisiting ideas as well as encountering new ones. Nursery sits at the beginning of that planned sequence.

Morning and afternoon sessions shape attendance in both groups. Snowdrops also has a full-time option for eligible children, giving families a different attendance pattern as their child reaches the three-year-old provision.

Every member of the EYFS staff holds a paediatric first-aid certificate. This is a specific qualification across the early years team, relevant to the everyday care of young children.

SEND support includes a SENCO role covering Nursery within EYFS. The school's approach involves parents in addressing difficulties and includes individual education plans for children requiring SEN support, undergoing referral or holding an Education and Health Care Plan. Planning and record-keeping involve those working with the child, so support is organised around shared information.

Named services within that support structure include Ladywood Outreach Service, Sensory Support Service and the Educational Psychologist. These links give families a clearer picture of the professional support the school aims to draw on.

Communication also has a practical channel. The Greenhouse School Websites mobile app brings together letters, newsletters, dates and photographs, with push notifications and selectable alert groups. Parents can use it to keep school information together on their phone.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate school-place application through the local authority application process. Treat that application as a distinct step, even if your child already attends Sunflowers or Snowdrops.

The nursery decision therefore concerns your child's early years provision; the later school-place decision still requires an application through the normal route.

Sunflowers offers either a morning or an afternoon session to children eligible for 15 hours of funding. Snowdrops offers morning, afternoon and full-time sessions for eligible children. Keep those eligibility conditions alongside the session choice when considering which pattern fits your family.

Visits to EYFS can be arranged through the school office. This provides a direct way to see the provision before making a nursery decision.

For enquiries, telephone 01204 333063, email office@stmichaelscepbolton.co.uk or use the Contact Us form. The school address is Green Lane, Bolton, BL3 2PL. The office also supplies paper copies of website information free of charge, which gives families an alternative to reading it online.