Abbey Village Primary School Nursery Review

Children's ideas help shape the learning in Sunnyhurst, the mixed-age class that brings Abbey Village's pre-school children together with Reception and Year 1. This is nursery provision within school life, with older children sharing the class rather than a separate nursery setting. The school takes children from age 3.

In March 2024, Ofsted judged the school's early years provision Good. That judgement covers the early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating. Books and familiar routines were clear strengths of the early-years experience.

Choice has a practical place in the day. Through continuous provision, children contribute their interests to planning and choose how to develop their ideas. Adults plan with them, giving children's suggestions a part in what they explore. For a parent, the useful distinction is that learning includes children making decisions, rather than simply completing adult-directed tasks.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum sits within this provision. Its everyday expression includes sharing books, building knowledge and skills, and learning alongside other children. In March 2024, early-years children enjoyed familiar songs, stories and rhymes, while adults introduced reading through carefully selected books. Cooperative learning and helping to put things away also formed part of their routines. These are small, concrete steps towards participating in a classroom group.

Sunnyhurst has indoor and outdoor learning space, which the school describes as very large. An EYFS woodworking area adds a specific practical feature. Across the mixed-age class, Supersonic Phonics Friends is used for a daily active phonics session, with opportunities to practise around the classroom. This is a class arrangement spanning several ages, rather than a promise that every nursery child follows an identical reading programme.

The early-years team includes a teacher and learning support assistants with key-worker roles. Qualifications within those support roles include an Early Years Level 3 TA, and first-aid training features in the team. The EYFS and Year 1 teacher also has Wellcomm speech and language training, adding a named area of expertise relevant to early communication.

For children with SEND, the school uses a Graduated approach to address difficulties with learning. Parents join planning and progress reviews with the SENDCO or class teacher at least three times a year. This gives families repeated opportunities to contribute to decisions about support.

School meals include a vegetarian choice each day and jacket potatoes with different toppings. Menus change seasonally. Families managing allergies are asked to work with staff on a child-specific plan and provide a current allergy action plan signed by their child's doctor.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply separately through the normal local-authority admissions process. For the 2025/2026 admissions cycle, nursery attendance conferred no priority: places were allocated against criteria including care status, exceptional needs, Services Premium eligibility, siblings and distance.

Sunnyhurst already groups pre-school children with Reception and Year 1. That shared class structure is separate from the allocation of school places and must not be treated as an admissions advantage.

The school office handles enquiries on 01254 830489 or bursar@abbeyvillage.lancs.sch.uk. Potential new families are welcome to visit the school. A visit offers a chance to discuss Sunnyhurst's mixed-age organisation and see how its learning spaces support children's choices.