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Nursery at Wistaston Church Lane Academy
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Welly Walks, lunch in the dinner hall and shared activities with Reception children give Cygnets Nursery a clear place in school life. This is Wistaston Church Lane Academy’s own teacher-led nursery in Wistaston, taking children after their third birthday until they begin Reception. There are places for 26 children at any one time.
Opened in September 2023, Cygnets combines nursery play with familiar school routines. Children join events such as World Book Day and meet community visitors, including the local librarian. For families choosing a school nursery, that involvement is a concrete part of the experience.
Play carries the learning. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together language, relationships, movement, early reading and number, creative activity and understanding the world. Children choose their play companions and activities, while adults lead short carpet sessions and group work. Nursery phonics and maths include brief practical sessions each week, keeping those first skills rooted in exploration.
Indoor and outdoor activities sit alongside one another. A role play corner can become a veterinary surgery; children also have weekly PE and Welly Walks. These give movement and pretend play their own place in the week, alongside listening and conversation.
Summer learning plans include observing caterpillars, comparing weight and capacity through practical activities, and exploring Paddington stories. These are useful examples of how a topic connects observation, language and early maths. The nursery shapes learning around children’s interests as well as planned themes.
In November 2024, Ofsted found that early-years children remained engaged in learning and received support from adults who understood young children’s development. That finding concerns early years within the school, rather than a separate nursery grade.
Settling-in sessions can be arranged through the office, allowing families to give a child extra time to become familiar with nursery. Everyday independence is another focus: children practise asking for help, managing coats and shoes, using the toilet and following instructions with two parts. These are skills for the nursery day itself as well as the next stage.
Lunch is eaten together in the dinner hall. Families can choose a school meal or send a packed lunch, so children share the mealtime routine whichever option they use. Tapestry, the online learning journal, lets parents see nursery experiences and contribute activities from home. Stay and Play sessions provide another way to take part.
For concerns about development, the class teacher is the first contact. The school uses an Early Identification Pathway and reviews SEND support through assessment, planning, action and review. A SENCO and Lead Practitioner for Adaptive Practice support this work. Possible adjustments include visual timetables and extra processing time, giving families concrete approaches to discuss for their child.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Cheshire East’s primary admissions system. For the 2027–2028 intake, nursery attendance confers no priority within the Reception oversubscription criteria. Familiarity with school and entitlement to a place are separate matters.
Shared activities and assemblies with Reception help nursery children build relationships before moving on. Eating in the dinner hall also introduces a school routine. These experiences support transition; they do not replace the application process.
Cygnets opens for 38 weeks annually. The 15-hour patterns are five mornings, 8:45am to 11:45am, or five afternoons, 12:15pm to 3:15pm. The 30-hour pattern runs from 8:45am to 3:15pm Tuesday to Friday, with Monday ending at 12:45pm. Extending Monday to 3:15pm carries an additional charge.
Funding for 15 hours begins the term after a child turns three; 30-hour funding depends on eligibility, with parents responsible for applying by the required deadline and renewing their funding code. Starting before funding begins, or taking hours beyond entitlement, incurs charges. Ask the school for current charges.
Send the Nursery Place Enquiry form to admin@wistaston.cheshire.sch.uk. Morning drop-off uses the main entrance, afternoon drop-off the office, and collection the garden door. Bring a water bottle, weather-appropriate clothing, wellies and two changes of clothes. Swan Stars provides nursery wraparound care, booked through Kids Club HQ, during term time excluding INSET days.
Children can join after their third birthday and attend until they start Reception. The nursery accommodates 26 children at a time.
Yes. The 15-hour options are five mornings from 8:45am to 11:45am or five afternoons from 12:15pm to 3:15pm.
Contact the school office to arrange them. Parents can also join Stay and Play sessions and contribute to Tapestry.
No. Nursery attendance is not a priority criterion for the 2027–2028 Reception intake and does not guarantee a place. Apply separately through Cheshire East’s primary admissions system.
Yes. Swan Stars accepts nursery children and provides breakfast and an afternoon snack. Register and book through Kids Club HQ. It operates during term time and excludes holidays and INSET days.
