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Nursery at Saighton Church of England Primary School & Pre-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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Daily outdoor play and learning alongside older children give Saighton’s pre-school its character. This is the school’s own nursery provision on Saighton Lane, with pre-school and Reception children sharing an Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) unit. Familiarity with the next stage starts during ordinary nursery activities.
The Church of England identity also shapes children’s experience. Pre-school joins the wider school community for worship, making faith part of school life rather than simply a label. For families, that Christian context belongs alongside the practical appeal of shared early years provision.
Adult-guided activities sit alongside play that children choose themselves. In practical terms, the EYFS day gives children opportunities to follow an interest while staff introduce learning through planned activities. Animals, dinosaurs and pirates are among the themes staff can use to draw children into exploration. Children use both outdoor and indoor provision daily.
Stories supply another starting point. The published summer 2026 plans paired Drawing Club with Pathways to Write to connect books with language development and early writing. Its planned activities included seed planting, investigating minibeasts and exploring life cycles. These are concrete ways to connect stories and conversation with things children can handle and observe.
Outside, the Forest School area adds a different setting for play and investigation. The school grounds include a gardening area and forest field, as well as a playground with play equipment. Two trained Forest School leaders support this provision. The pre-school timetable places outdoor learning on Mondays, with PE on Wednesdays and Fridays, so movement has dedicated time as well as a place in everyday play.
Ofsted’s inspection on 4 October 2022 found that early years children understood routines for safe, purposeful activity and that staff checked their learning to identify support needs. The broader school curriculum nevertheless needed clearer content in a small number of subjects, an improvement action concerning how later learning builds on existing knowledge.
Early Essence gives parents photographs, updates and information about their child’s next learning steps. That makes it a useful connection between nursery activities and conversations at home, rather than simply a gallery of finished work.
The staffing structure includes a pre-school teacher and an EYFS lead. At school level, the SEND coordinator also holds the safeguarding lead role, while Cheshire West and Chester’s Live Well service brings together information about education, health and social care support. These give families identifiable roles and a named local support resource.
Food provision is organised through Hutchison Catering: the school’s meals are cooked on site from fresh ingredients. Menus follow a three-week rotation, and dietary enquiries go directly to the caterer. This describes the school catering arrangements rather than establishing a nursery meal entitlement.
Learning alongside Reception children creates everyday familiarity with the next stage. The published summer 2026 programme also planned Moving On Up activities focused on the change to children’s next class. Those plans aimed to build confidence and familiarity.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. Sharing an EYFS unit should not be treated as an admissions entitlement.
Uniform orders for pre-school go directly to Aldford Apparel, with sizing guides to consult beforehand. A second-hand uniform rail is also kept in school. For Monday outdoor learning, children need labelled waterproofs and wellies in a separate bag, plus Forest School base layers; trainers are requested for Wednesday and Friday PE.
The school calendar follows Cheshire West and Chester’s holiday pattern, with five additional inset days. The office contact is admin@saighton.cheshire.sch.uk or 01244 335822. Use that route for a nursery enquiry; refer to the school for current charges.
Yes. Pre-school and Reception children work alongside each other within the same EYFS unit.
Children use outdoor provision daily, with a dedicated Monday outdoor learning session and access to the Forest School area.
Early Essence provides regular updates, photographs and information about next steps.
No. Reception requires a separate application through the normal admissions process.
Monday outdoor learning requires Forest School base layers and labelled wellies and waterproofs in a separate bag. Children should wear trainers for PE on Wednesdays and Fridays.
