Slaidburn Brennands Endowed Primary School Nursery Review

Three outdoor areas and an EYFS canopy room give Brennands’ pre-school children space to learn beyond the classroom. This is nursery provision within a Church of England primary school in Slaidburn, with children joining from age three. Pre-school sits within the infant organisation alongside Reception and Years 1 and 2, so younger children belong to the school from the outset.

Practical activity shares the day with more structured work at tables. Children learn alongside the Reception class, while the canopy room provides another space used mainly by Foundation Stage children. Access to three outdoor areas continues during sessions, giving outdoor learning a place within the nursery day rather than reserving it for an occasional outing.

The Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum brings together early reading, numbers, movement, creativity and learning about the world. Communication and emotional development matter too. Brennands places particular emphasis on learning to share, listen and treat others kindly: these are skills children use in their play as well as in organised activities.

Daily phonics sessions introduce early reading work. Red Rose Phonics is the named programme used in the early years. Activities have also explored animals and their habitats, festivals and healthy bodies, giving children concrete subjects to talk about and investigate. A pre-school Forest School activity combined listening to a story with gathering sticks and decorating them, connecting language with making and outdoor exploration.

In November 2022, early-years children enjoyed books read aloud and received a broad curriculum that supported subsequent learning. Curriculum sequencing. The same inspection identified a need to define essential knowledge more clearly in some subjects across the span beginning in early years. Families should weigh that concern alongside the positive early-years findings.

A pre-school teaching assistant forms part of the staff team. Personal, social and emotional development takes priority in the nursery’s approach, with sharing and considerate behaviour taught explicitly. In November 2022, children adjusted promptly to school routines, and early identification of special educational needs and disabilities helped staff provide appropriate support.

Parents can discuss their child’s learning directly with staff through an open-door approach. Learning journeys are shared at parents’ evenings, giving families examples of what their child has been doing rather than just a general progress update. The school’s SEND coordinator can also be contacted through the office.

Lunches are cooked in the school kitchen, with menus adapted to children’s tastes and requirements. This makes food part of the school’s own provision. Wider family support includes a link worker from the Children and Family Wellbeing Service, who can speak by telephone or meet families at school or at home.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. Applications go through Lancashire County Council’s school admissions service.

Learning alongside Reception children provides familiarity with the classroom setting before that next step. That shared experience concerns transition and daily routines; it does not secure admission.

Families can choose whole school days, mornings or afternoons for pre-school attendance. Those options allow a shorter session as well as a full day within the school setting.

For enquiries, telephone the school office on 01200 446664 or email bursar@brennands.lancs.sch.uk. Visits can be arranged by telephone, giving families an opportunity to see the nursery spaces and meet the team. Refer to the school for current charges.