Marigold Nursery at Netherton Moss Primary School

Two longer days and a Wednesday morning give Marigold Nursery its distinctive weekly rhythm. This is Netherton Moss Primary School’s own nursery within its Foundation Stage Unit, with children joining in the term after their third birthday. The concentrated timetable matters for families arranging care across the week: Thursday and Friday are nursery closure days.

The early years provision received a Requires improvement judgement at Ofsted’s inspection on 28 and 29 January 2025. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery. The central concern was the clarity of learning beyond reading and mathematics.

Play combines activities guided by adults with choices initiated by children. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework: learning is planned across seven areas, with children’s interests, individual needs and development informing the activities. In practical terms, there is space for children to pursue an interest as well as take part in something an adult has prepared. Classroom resources and organisation are planned around those principles.

Sound recognition is a specific part of nursery learning. Children practise distinguishing different sounds, giving families a concrete picture of the early reading work. At home, the EYFS activities include nightly book sharing, noticing colours and shapes, finding numbers and taking opportunities to count. These are small activities that parents can fit into ordinary routines.

Curriculum clarity. In January 2025, intended learning in parts of the wider early years curriculum was less precise than in reading and mathematics. Consequently, interactions with adults did not consistently take children’s understanding far enough. The required improvement was to make learning intentions clearer so staff could focus their conversations and activities more effectively.

Performance also features in nursery life. A Marigold Nursery Nativity was scheduled for 17 December 2024, providing a dated example of an activity beyond the everyday learning programme.

Individual needs and partnership with parents are part of the EYFS approach. Planning takes account of each child’s development, so activities are intended to respond to children rather than follow an identical path for everyone.

An EYFS Life-Long Learner Parent & Carers Workshop was scheduled for 16 December 2024. Alongside the home learning activities, this gives a concrete example of families being included in early years learning. The school’s SEND page also links to its September 2024 SEND Information Report and SEND Policy, plus Sefton’s Graduated Response and Local Offer.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal school admissions process and meet the normal deadline. The route is Sefton’s application form or its online admissions service.

The school’s admissions page sets out priority for looked-after children, followed by siblings already attending and then proximity to school. Nursery attendance is not one of those listed criteria. Familiarity with Marigold therefore needs to be kept separate from the application for a school place.

Monday and Tuesday sessions run from 8:45am to 2:45pm; Wednesday’s usual session ends at 11:45am after the same start time. Together, these form the school’s stated 15-hour nursery entitlement. Extra sessions can be purchased when space permits, with current charges obtained from the school.

The nursery opening page also allows an all-day Wednesday as an additional paid session or as part of the 30-hour offer. This is a conditional extension, so families should confirm their booking pattern before arranging other care. Nursery applications go directly to the school, with forms obtainable from the office.