Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy Nursery

Communication starts early here, including for two-year-olds. Darwen St James CofE Primary Academy’s nursery takes children aged two, three and four and forms part of the school’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). It sits within a Church of England academy on St James Crescent in Darwen.

Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 9 and 10 July 2025. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery. Children received support suited to their needs and developed independence, curiosity and pleasure in learning.

Talking and listening give the nursery curriculum its clearest focus. In July 2025, communication work began from the start of Nursery, including in the provision for two-year-olds. For parents, the emphasis is on building the language children need before formal reading develops. The early years curriculum was effective at that inspection.

Practical examples show what learning through exploration can mean. In autumn 2020, nursery children used the Gruffalo story as a starting point for construction: they stacked blocks to make a stable home and discussed the homes of other story characters. A familiar book became a reason to build, solve problems and talk together.

During the same autumn, a welly walk involved gathering sticks, comparing their lengths and discussing how they felt. Moss on twigs caught some children’s attention. Indoors, a water tray provided space to experiment with colour: children combined red, yellow and blue and watched the results change. These examples connect early learning with things children can handle and investigate.

An Early Years Lead and EYFS team provide the staffing structure, alongside a school SEND coordinator. Families can contact the SEND coordinator by telephone or Class Dojo, giving them a direct route for discussing additional needs.

The July 2025 finding that early years support matched children’s needs is relevant here. Parents should keep that early years finding distinct from the wider school judgement rather than treating either as a blanket description of nursery care.

Nursery children have their own snack time. Sharing food has also been part of family participation: in November 2019, children explored Pumpkin soup through pumpkin preparation and shape activities, then parents joined them to eat the soup together. Reading café sessions in July 2025 offered another opportunity for parents and carers to share stories.

School staff receive regular safeguarding training. Where a family needs coordinated help, a voluntary Child and Family Assessment brings their views into an agreed action plan. Participation requires informed consent, so families have a choice about engaging with that support.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet the deadline for their child’s entry year. Choosing the nursery and applying for Reception are separate decisions; attendance should not be treated as securing the next place.

For nursery enquiries, call the school office on 01254 703260 or use the contact form. Appointments to look around the academy can be arranged through the office, allowing families to meet staff and discuss the provision.

Applications for two-year-old funding go through Blackburn with Darwen’s Parents Portal. This is a funding application route, distinct from applying for Reception.