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Nursery at Sir John Offley CofE (VC) Primary 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Sand pits, planting beds and sheltered corners give this nursery its character: space to build, grow and pause as well as play. For children aged 3 to 4, Sir John Offley’s school nursery combines a purpose-built classroom with a large enclosed outdoor area. Indoors, children have spaces for music, books, art and messy activities. There is room for different kinds of interest.
The nursery belongs to a Church of England primary school in Madeley. Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 2 and 3 February 2023. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.
Play carries the learning. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together children’s development, learning, health and safety; here, exploration and activity take place outside and inside. Outdoor access runs through the day rather than being confined to fixed breaks. Bikes, construction resources and sand pits give physical activity and imaginative play their own space.
Language gets repeated attention through stories, singing, conversation and role play. Plan / Do / Review asks children to explain their intentions and talk afterwards about their activities. This makes speaking part of the learning itself. Listening games, rhyming and clapping syllables help children attend to sounds, while discussions about books introduce new words and ideas.
Hands and bodies are busy too. Dough disco and Squiggle while you wiggle sit alongside cutting, threading and work with playdough. These activities practise the control needed for using tools and making marks. Counting songs and number games bring maths into everyday activity; children also explore shapes and compare quantities. Planting seeds and tending the EYFS garden connect learning to living things. Themes can change to follow children’s interests, so the plan allows their curiosity to influence activities.
Settling activities include getting to know classmates and talking about familiar experiences and feelings. Stories, turn-taking games and feeling stones give children ways to discuss emotions and practise sharing. In February 2023, children were learning how to form positive relationships from Nursery onwards.
Lunch starts at 11.45am for nursery children, giving them a quieter meal with fewer children around. Full-day children can bring food from home or have a charged school lunch. Edwards and Ward have provided school dinners since January 2026, and nursery dinner payments use ARBOR.
An early years leader and a nursery teaching assistant form part of the staffing structure. For children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), parents can discuss needs with the SENDCO. Children on the SEND register have individual Support Plans, bringing their needs to staff’s attention. The school building has no stairs and includes an accessible toilet. Everyday care also features in learning: children practise managing coats, toileting and washing their hands, building practical independence.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route by the normal deadline. Treat that application as a distinct step when planning your child’s next year.
The nursery aims to ease the move by helping children become familiar with school routines. That familiarity concerns the experience of starting school; it does not secure admission.
Children can start once they turn three, with funding eligibility beginning in the following term. For children eligible for 30 funded hours, the day runs from 9am to 3pm daily. The usual 15-hour arrangement is mornings, 9am to noon. Two and a half days may be possible if places permit, giving some families an alternative to daily mornings.
Families using 15 funded hours can purchase additional sessions. Contact the school for current charges, including school lunches. Adult collection is expected for children attending the nursery. To discuss joining or arrange a tour, call 01782 750301; enquiries can also go to office@sirjohnoffley.staffs.sch.uk.
Children aged 3 to 4. A child can start once they are three, with funding eligibility beginning in the following term.
Eligible children using 30 funded hours can attend from 9am to 3pm daily. The usual 15-hour pattern is 9am to noon each morning; two and a half days may be possible subject to availability.
A large enclosed area includes planting beds, sand pits, bikes, construction resources and sheltered spaces. Outdoor access is part of the nursery day.
Yes. Children attending a full day can bring a packed lunch or have a charged school lunch. Nursery lunch begins at 11.45am.
No. Families need to make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process by its deadline.
