Childer Thornton Primary School Nursery Review

Rhymes, songs and recognising sounds in words give Childer Thornton Primary School’s nursery a clear early reading focus. This is the school’s own nursery provision, with learning connected to the wider early years curriculum. The emphasis starts with listening and language, giving children a foundation for the reading work that follows.

Ofsted judged early years provision Outstanding at the inspection on 28 and 29 February 2024. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision; it is not a separate nursery rating. The nursery-specific detail is telling: children were quick to develop their recognition of sounds within words.

Reading begins before children can read independently. In February 2024, early years children enthusiastically joined in with songs and rhymes as preparation for phonics, while nursery children were learning to pick out word sounds. These activities give an everyday purpose to listening carefully: children begin to notice how spoken words work, rather than meeting reading only through printed text.

Sharing books also connects younger children with older pupils. Early years children had regular, purposeful reading opportunities with older schoolmates trained in the school’s phonics approach. That training matters. The shared activity links contact between age groups to the way reading is taught, so the older children’s involvement has a specific learning purpose.

The early years foundation stage (EYFS) learning described here also includes practical work with tools and techniques for later art and design. This gives making and handling tools a place alongside language activities. For parents, the useful distinction is that preparation for later learning includes practical skills as well as recognising sounds. The February 2024 examples show both strands: children developing their ears for words and beginning to build the techniques needed for creative work.

Feeling safe and accepted matters alongside learning. In February 2024, children in the early years were included in the finding that pupils felt secure, happy and valued. That gives parents an early years-specific picture of children’s experience, rather than relying solely on a judgement about the older school.

The reading partnership adds another dimension to support: younger children have opportunities to practise with trained older pupils. It brings other children into their learning, with the phonics approach providing a shared basis for the activity.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply separately for Reception through the normal admissions route and meet the applicable deadline. Treat the nursery decision and the Reception application as two distinct steps: choosing this nursery must not be taken as securing the next school place.

The nursery is part of Childer Thornton Primary School on New School Lane, Childer Thornton, Ellesmere Port, CH66 1QY. The school’s telephone number is 01512944737, providing a direct contact point for nursery enquiries.