Buckshaw Primary School Nursery Review

A mud kitchen, early mark making and an afternoon adventure to Astley Park give Buckshaw’s nursery a practical, playful character. This is the nursery provision within Buckshaw Primary School in Astley Village, Chorley, for children aged two to four. Its day runs around morning, afternoon or full-day sessions, giving families three ways to organise attendance.

Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 13 and 14 May 2025. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating. Children settled promptly and were able to concentrate for sustained periods, making both adjustment to nursery and engagement in activities strengths of that inspection picture.

Language has a clear place in the day. Nursery participates in the Lancashire Talk Project, while the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) includes daily Red Rose Letters and Sounds Phonics sessions. These develop blending and segmenting skills for early reading and writing. Child-initiated activities also give children opportunities to practise communication rather than keeping language learning within an adult-led session.

A writing area provides materials for experimenting with marks and letter shapes. Outdoors, the mud kitchen creates another setting for writing through play. Fiction and non-fiction books give children different kinds of text to explore. Together, these features connect early literacy with things children can choose and do.

Creative learning combines activities led by adults with children’s own ideas, indoors and outside. Children experiment with texture, colour and design, and express themselves through stories, role play, music and art. In May 2025, early years staff chose activities carefully and checked children’s understanding; children also shared and worked together successfully. Nursery children have taken an afternoon trip to Astley Park, extending their experiences beyond school.

Settling was a positive feature in May 2025: early years children adjusted quickly. That matters for families facing a child’s first experience of a group learning setting, although each child’s start remains an individual experience.

For food, a school lunch is available each day for a charge, or families can provide a packed lunch. Morning toast is also chargeable. Parents supply nappies, sunscreen and similar personal items, so these need to be included in preparations for attendance.

Buckshaw aims to identify additional needs early. Its support model includes individual help, small-group work and whole-class support, with parents and other agencies involved. Parents and carers also contribute to reviews of individual education plans and education, health and care plans, giving families a role in reviewing support.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through Lancashire County Council’s school admissions route. Treat that application as a distinct step from arranging nursery attendance.

Transition activities help children become familiar with the next stage. New Reception children made visits before the summer break and tried a school lunch. Those experiences support familiarity with school routines; they do not secure admission.

Sessions run Monday to Friday during term time, across 38 weeks each year. Choose mornings from 9am to noon, afternoons from noon to 3pm, or a full day from 9am to 3pm. The funded delivery patterns cover three hours per morning or afternoon session and six hours per full day. Hours beyond a family’s daily funded entitlement are charged.

There are no current charges for non-food consumables or additional activities within the setting, but families are asked to contribute towards the planned end-of-year pre-school trip and transport. Contact the school for current charges. Enquiries go to sbm@buckshaw.lancs.sch.uk or 01257 418862, option 2; the school office also arranges visits.