The FMS Inspection Score is FindMySchool's proprietary analysis based on official Ofsted and ISI inspection reports. It converts ratings into a standardised 1–10 scale for fair comparison across all schools in England.
Disclaimer: The FMS Inspection Score is an independent analysis by FindMySchool. It is not endorsed by or affiliated with Ofsted or ISI. Always refer to the official Ofsted or ISI report for the full picture of a school’s inspection outcome.
Nursery at Dee Banks School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Sensory play, communication and small steps towards independence give Dee Banks’ early years provision its character. This is nursery provision within a specialist school in Chester whose intake starts at two. The school serves children whose primary need is severe learning difficulties or profound and multiple learning difficulties; an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is required to attend.
The early years department sits on the main site at Sandy Lane. Its remit extends up to Year 3, so its classes and activities should be understood as a broader early years offer rather than nursery-only provision.
Learning begins with what a child can experience and communicate. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) approach gives attention to movement, relationships and language, alongside early number work, books, creative expression and discovering the surrounding world. Number rhymes and sensory play introduce mathematical ideas; stories and mark-making provide ways into literacy. These are practical experiences, adapted to different stages of development.
Across the school, the Equals curriculum accompanies personalised learning. Group activities sit alongside teaching linked to EHCP goals and Personalised Learning Intention Maps. Progress is considered against each pupil’s starting point, making the individual child’s next step the focus.
Apple Class illustrates the sensory approach within early years: cooking, crafts and messy play sit alongside PE and swimming. Community walks provide opportunities to practise independence beyond the classroom. Berry Class adds Forest School and weekly nature walks, with self-care activities and opportunities to practise sharing and taking turns.
Physical spaces include the main site’s swimming pool, therapy rooms and soft play area. A May 2026 Berry Class activity brought pond learning into the classroom through themed tuff trays after a walk to a local pond. Real creatures and toy habitats gave children different ways to explore the same subject.
An Early Years Lead and class teams form part of the staffing structure, alongside school roles for medical and complex needs and family support. The school’s stated aim when children join is a positive transition from home, developed with their families.
Arbor handles school messages and payments for meals and snacks. Photographs and videos collected through Evidence for Learning can be shared with parents and linked to personal goals, giving families concrete examples of their child’s progress. School lunches follow a three-week menu cycle.
At the March 2022 inspection, parents of early years children felt heard, and children were developing communication, independence and the skills needed for their next educational stage. Learning next steps. School-wide improvement actions concerned the sequencing of some learning and inconsistent use of assessment to plan what came next. These were school-wide concerns, rather than findings assigned specifically to the nursery.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Nursery and Reception admission are separate processes. Dee Banks’ specialist admission route is through the Cheshire West and Chester SEN team, and children need an EHCP. Keep the next placement decision distinct from the child’s participation in early years activities.
The school’s opening hours are 9am to 3pm. These are school hours. Families can arrange a visit through the admin team on 01244 667800.
Transport access. Cars must be cleared from the school frontage between 8:30am and 9:30am, and between 2:30pm and 3:30pm, to give transport vehicles room to manoeuvre. Plan parking around those periods. School uniform can be ordered through School Trends, with delivery to a chosen address and no minimum quantity.
The school serves pupils whose primary need is severe learning difficulties or profound and multiple learning difficulties. An EHCP is required, and applications go through the Cheshire West and Chester SEN team.
Sensory learning and play support communication and independence. Apple Class activities include cooking, crafts, messy play, PE and swimming; Berry Class also has weekly nature walks and Forest School.
Arbor carries school communications. Evidence for Learning allows photographs and videos of progress to be shared with families.
No. Nursery and Reception admission are separate processes. Dee Banks’ specialist admissions are handled through the local authority SEN team.
Yes. Families who think their child meets the school’s criteria can contact the admin team on 01244 667800 to arrange a school visit.
