Fairfield Community Primary School Nursery

A morning, an afternoon or a full school day: Fairfield’s nursery gives families three distinct ways to organise the week. This is nursery provision within Fairfield Community Primary School in Bury, on Rochdale Old Road. Children can join from their second birthday for a fee-paying place; funded entry starts from the term after they are 2 years old. Places are also offered for three-year-olds.

The session pattern sets the boundaries of the day. Morning children attend from 8.45am until 11.45am, while the afternoon runs from 12.15pm until 3.15pm. The full-time option starts at 8.45am and finishes at 3.15pm. For families choosing between shorter attendance and a longer day, those start and finish times are the practical distinction.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the statutory framework for children aged 0 to 5. It brings learning and development together with requirements for children’s welfare and safeguarding. Its learning areas cover early reading and writing, maths, communication, movement, social and emotional development, understanding the world and creative expression. The emphasis extends beyond early academic skills: learning to communicate and developing physically and emotionally belong within the same framework.

Assessment is part of that framework too. Practitioners are required to review development and give parents a summary, making progress something families should be involved in understanding.

SEND enquiries have a clear starting point: Fairfield has a designated SENCo and Inclusion Lead, with appointments arranged through the main school office. That gives parents a route to discuss additional needs with the team responsible for coordinating support.

Between the ages of two and three, early years practitioners must give parents a brief written account of development. This check focuses on movement, communication and social and emotional development, identifying strengths as well as areas progressing more slowly than expected. It gives families a specific opportunity to discuss how their child is developing.

A school dinner is an option, with an additional charge. Families considering the full-time day should account for the meal separately when discussing current charges with the school.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families need to make a separate Reception application through Bury Council’s normal admissions route and meet the applicable deadline. Bury Council controls school admissions, so choosing Fairfield’s nursery and applying for its Reception are separate decisions. Keep the Reception application in your plans alongside the nursery arrangements.

Nursery applications go through the school office. For three-year-olds, the intake takes place each September, with a January intake depending on numbers. That condition matters if a later start would suit your family.

Thirty-hour funded places are offered, and the school office handles enquiries about them. Full-time attendance carries an additional cost, as does an optional school dinner; ask the school for current charges before choosing your attendance pattern.

Parents can arrange a school tour through the School Business Manager. This provides a direct way to explore the setting before applying. Contact the office on 0161 764 1559 or email fairfield@bury.gov.uk to begin the conversation.