Little Oaks Nursery at East Ward Community Primary School

Diggers, pasta and glittery snow give language learning a practical purpose at Little Oaks. Children explore quantities, describe what they are doing and learn new words through play. Conversation drives the learning.

East Ward Community Primary School’s nursery takes children aged three and four at Little Oaks Community Hub on Hazel Avenue, a short walk from the main school. It occupies a purpose-built early years building formerly used as a Children’s Centre, with space for learning indoors and outdoors. The nursery operates under the school’s registration. In January 2026, Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision to be at a Strong standard; this judgement covers early years rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Play has a clear learning purpose here. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines language, physical skills and emotional development with early literacy, mathematics, creativity and understanding the world. Development Matters guides planning and assessment alongside the statutory framework. For parents, that means learning extends beyond letters and numbers to how children communicate, move and work with others.

Each half term’s learning starts with a question or statement connected to a key text. Themes link to the Learning Challenge curriculum, while children also pursue their own interests. Activities combine adult involvement with opportunities to explore independently. Mark making, conversation and mathematics receive a clear emphasis, giving children several ways to express ideas and solve problems.

The January 2026 early years findings give this approach substance. Adults use stories, rhymes and songs to develop vocabulary, then reinforce it during everyday routines and play. Diggers and pasta provide opportunities to discuss how much a container holds. Construction and role-play areas encourage children to explain their ideas. Nursery children also describe scooping glittery snow, linking words to an experience they can see and handle.

Read, Write, Inc begins with listening. Fred the Frog introduces Fred Talk, breaking words into sounds that children learn to hear and blend before moving towards recognising written sounds. This gives early reading a spoken starting point.

Settling is a strength: in January 2026, nursery children were comfortable and secure, with caring relationships across early years and effective partnerships with families supporting learning and wellbeing. Before applying, parents can meet staff to discuss their child’s individual needs.

Support extends to family life. Little Oaks Community Hub works with local professionals on routines and toilet training, alongside family first aid and budgeting courses. Its ESOL programme combines practical English with parenting and health information in a 12-week group for non-English-speaking mothers and their babies. These community sessions are open beyond East Ward families.

Parents can request pastoral help or a referral to the SENDCo through the school office. Separately, the school meal service uses Aspens caterers, with food prepared fresh on site each day and ordering through SwiftKitchen.

Separate application. Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply separately through the normal Reception admissions process and meet its deadline. Nursery attendance gives no priority: allocation recognises children whose EHCP names the school, looked-after and previously looked-after children, and qualifying siblings before other applicants.

Transition support is a separate matter. Three Welcoming Wednesday sessions introduce children moving year groups to their new classroom and teacher. Children contribute work to a Family Board outside the classroom, making the new space familiar. Tailored transition support involves parents and the SENDCo where children have additional needs.

Morning sessions run from 8.30am to 11.30am, afternoons from 12.15pm to 3.15pm, and full-time attendance from 8.30am to 3.15pm. The nursery offers 15 funded hours each week across five mornings or five afternoons, plus 30 hours for eligible working parents. Staff try to accommodate a family’s preferred morning or afternoon pattern wherever possible.

There are September and January intakes. To arrange a tour, contact the school office on 0161 764 6065 or email office.eastward@visionmat.com. Families should refer to the school for current charges.