Cherry Grove Primary School Nursery Review

A qualified early years teacher and two daily sessions shaped Cherry Grove’s nursery offer for children from age three. But the decisive fact for families now is the closure announcement: governing body minutes dated 26 March 2026 record the decision to close the nursery provision. Treat that announcement as the starting point for any enquiry about a place.

The nursery was maintained provision within Cherry Grove Primary School, with capacity for up to 30 children per session. That figure described session capacity, rather than the number attending. Its staffing model paired an experienced, qualified early years teacher with a support colleague trained in early years, giving the provision a distinct teaching structure within the school.

Stories and rhymes provide the clearest picture of children’s learning here. At the January 2025 inspection, nursery children enjoyed returning to familiar books and rhymes. For a young child, that means repeated encounters with language through recognisable stories, rather than a day described chiefly through formal lessons.

The early years curriculum had been reviewed by November 2024, with planning covering children from age three and progression towards later learning. Nursery learning therefore formed part of a longer sequence within the school. Familiarity mattered beyond books, too: in January 2025, children learned school routines quickly, with expectations for behaviour introduced from their nursery start.

Emotional support had a named school-wide approach. By January 2026, Conscious Discipline was being introduced across the staff team, with children learning ways to calm themselves and a designated space in each classroom for managing their feelings. This gives a concrete picture of the approach: adults teach responses to difficult emotions alongside managing behaviour.

The school also had a full-time pastoral manager and an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant. These were school-wide roles, rather than a separate nursery staffing allocation.

For children attending across lunchtime, the nursery arrangements allowed a requested school meal at an additional charge, or a packed lunch brought from home. Families supplied nappies, wipes and sun cream when needed, so those everyday care items remained part of preparing for the session.

Attending Cherry Grove’s nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the applicable deadline.

The nursery’s transition offer centred on becoming familiar with staff and school life from an early age. That familiarity can make the next stage less unfamiliar for a child; it should be kept separate from the question of securing admission.

Before the closure announcement, the nursery offer included mornings from 8:40am to 11:40am and afternoons from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. A full-day pattern ran from 8:40am to 3:30pm, Monday to Friday. The funded model covered 15 or 30 hours a week over 38 term-time weeks, subject to eligibility, with limited 30-hour places.

Additional sessions could be purchased. Lunchtime supervision covered 11:40am to 12:30pm. It was free for children attending all day every day; otherwise, families could use funded hours to cover it. For enquiries following the closure announcement, contact admin@cherrygrove.cheshire.sch.uk. Refer to the school for current charges.