Taywood Nursery School: Nursery Life in Burnley

A pirate ship, a mud kitchen and woodland learning give Taywood’s nursery day a distinctly outdoor character. The maintained nursery school serves children aged 2 to 4 on Accrington Road in Burnley. Orchard typically takes children aged 2–3, Acorn caters for rising threes, and Willow provides the pre-school stage. These classrooms give different stages of early childhood their own focus.

Teaching involves a qualified teacher and early years practitioners with qualifications at Level 3 or above. This review covers the maintained nursery school; the baby provision on site is separately registered and was outside the school’s May 2024 inspection.

Language runs through the learning. The Early Years Foundation Stage approach connects talk, physical development and learning to manage feelings and relationships with early reading, maths, creativity and understanding the world. Taywood’s Image of the Child approach aims to encourage independence and curiosity. Planning changes weekly in response to children’s needs and interests, giving adults scope to build on what engages them.

Orchard combines activities chosen by children with adult-led learning, including focused phonics and maths. Outside, bikes and trikes sit alongside the pirate ship and mud kitchen, giving children opportunities for movement and imaginative play. A qualified Forest School practitioner leads weekly woodland sessions. Acorn has direct access outdoors, so nature and play can form part of its everyday routine.

Willow adds daily literacy built around a core book, maths in small groups and phonics three times weekly. Its weekly Nature Club brings learning outdoors, while dance, farm and theatre visits, storytellers and an owl company extend experiences beyond classroom activities. These are concrete ways to connect new words and ideas with things children can do and see.

At the inspection on 8 and 9 May 2024, children learned successfully overall, with repeated explanations of vocabulary helping their communication. There were also two weaknesses: some learning areas needed clearer decisions about essential knowledge, and staff sometimes chose activities that did not teach the intended content effectively. For parents, the useful distinction is between an appealing activity and what a child actually learns from it.

In Orchard, each child has a key worker responsible for emotional support. Class Dojo carries messages about the day and learning progress, and parents can use it to pass information back to staff. That gives families a regular communication route alongside the child’s relationship with a familiar adult.

Support includes a speech and language lead, SEND support and work with external agencies. Makaton signs help children learning English as an additional language to communicate and develop vocabulary. In May 2024, children with SEND received effective support and progressed well; safeguarding arrangements were effective too.

Families can receive help with toileting, routines and sleep, plus Wellcomm screening, speech and language interventions and referrals. Children staying for lunch bring a packed lunch from home. Breakfast Club includes breakfast, and After School Club includes a hot snack, making food arrangements part of planning the longer day.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate primary-school application, with applications needed by January for a September start. Treat that application as a separate task alongside nursery attendance.

Preparation here centres on skills rather than an admissions advantage. Willow works on independence, routines and communication, while family support includes help with the move to primary school. These support a child’s readiness for the next classroom.

Term-time provision runs for 38 weeks. The 15-hour pattern is five mornings, 8:45am–11:45am, or five afternoons, 12:15pm–3:15pm. The 30-hour funded pattern runs 8:45am–3:15pm Monday to Thursday and ends at 12:45pm on Friday; attendance covers the complete pattern. Extending Friday to 3:15pm is chargeable.

Breakfast Club runs 8:00am–8:45am and After School Club 3:15pm–5:45pm. Additional sessions depend on space. Charges apply to extra hours and lunch added to a 15-hour place. Snack contributions are voluntary, non-food consumables carry no charge, and children remain included if families do not donate towards activities, although trips or events may be cancelled if contributions do not cover at least half the cost. Ask the office for current charges. Paid extras require payment a month ahead; changes or cancellations require four weeks’ written notice, and booked sessions remain payable during absence.

Orchard, Acorn and Willow require uniform: a green sweatshirt or cardigan, yellow polo shirt and suitable footwear are among the items. Non-logo clothing is accepted, and pre-loved uniform is offered. Outdoor preparation includes a waterproof coat and named wellington boots. Arrange a visit through admin@taywood.lancs.sch.uk or 01282 425601.