Manifold Church of England Primary School Nursery

Play with a choice of indoor and outdoor space shapes the early years experience at Manifold. The nursery starts from age three and belongs to the school's Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provision in Warslow. Its Church of England identity places it within a school community with a Christian character.

Ofsted graded early years provision Good at the inspection on 20 and 21 February 2024. That judgement covers the school's early years provision rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Children learn through play within the EYFS curriculum. In practical terms, they choose resources, experiment and investigate, with opportunities to pursue their own ideas. The nursery aims to encourage questions and problem-solving through resources that children can use in different ways. This gives the day room for individual interests rather than requiring every child to follow the same activity.

Independence begins with the classroom arrangement: children can select materials and put them back themselves. An outdoor area is accessible throughout the day, with choices that correspond to activities indoors. Children therefore have opportunities to take their learning outside as well as work within the classroom. The wider school grounds include a pond and two areas of woodland.

Adults observe children's developing skills and record significant learning using video, photographs, work samples and written notes. These become learning journals, with families encouraged to contribute discoveries made at home. The picture of a child's progress can therefore include both settings. In February 2024, vocabulary teaching began in early years and connected new words to themes and topics, giving language development a place within the learning children were doing.

Partnership with parents includes reviewing children's development and agreeing targets from the beginning. A home-school communication book gives families a way to exchange everyday information. Phone conversations, meetings, texts and email provide other routes for staying in touch, so communication extends beyond formal discussions about progress.

Support for special educational needs and disabilities sits within the school's wider arrangements. Teachers work with parents, the SEND coordinator and outside agencies. Individual Pupil Passports to Learning set targets linked to a child's needs and are reviewed with parents three times a year. Speech and Language Therapy and the Educational Psychology Service are among the specialist services the school approaches for advice. These arrangements give families a defined role in planning and reviewing additional support.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Staffordshire County Council's coordinated admissions process, with preferences handled centrally by its School Admissions and Transport Service. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as two separate decisions.

For nursery enquiries, contact the school office on 01298 384293 or email office@manifold.staffs.sch.uk. Families can also use the contact form. School visits are offered, providing an opportunity to meet staff and discuss the provision before choosing it.