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Nursery at Rossmore 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Wellies and a puddle suit belong on the kit list at Rossmore Pre-School. Outdoor play continues through changing weather, alongside a day built around children’s own play, shared stories and activities guided by adults. This is the school’s own provision, on its Little Sutton site, for children aged three and four.
The practical distinction is between nursery education and the longer childcare day. Pre-school follows the school’s terms, while wraparound provision covers an earlier start and later finish. Families can therefore consider the learning day and their working hours separately.
Play carries much of the learning. Rossmore follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), with attention to language, physical development, relationships and emotions, alongside early number and literacy skills. In parent terms, that means learning to communicate, manage social situations and develop the skills needed for later learning.
Children choose activities indoors and outside, with adult-led work introducing new skills. Group gatherings bring songs, stories and conversation into the day; snack times add another opportunity to socialise. Continuous provision means children have opportunities to learn through play rather than spending the whole session following adult instructions.
For autumn 2026, the class topics include All about me, Harvest Festival and Autumn. These give the youngest children familiar starting points: themselves and the season around them. The broader pre-school programme also includes World Book Day, Diwali and British Science Week, introducing books, celebrations and scientific curiosity through themed experiences.
Learning can extend beyond the room. Possible experiences include library trips, woodland walks and visits from community helpers or animals. These are examples of what may happen, rather than a fixed outing schedule. In October 2022, Ofsted found that the early-years curriculum established foundations for later learning and that children understood routines supporting purposeful, safe play.
Settling begins with getting to know the children, introducing routines and showing them how to play and share. That makes the first weeks about understanding the day as well as joining activities. Parents can take part in stay and play sessions during the year, while Tapestry records learning and allows connections between home and pre-school.
Full-day attendance requires a packed lunch. Morning and afternoon snacks are supplied, and milk is provided until children reach five. A labelled water bottle is part of the daily kit, keeping the food and drink arrangements straightforward for families.
For additional needs, the school’s SEND coordinator offers appointments arranged by email. The pastoral and inclusion role also supports families and works with outside services, including Community Paediatrics and the Cheshire West and Chester SEN team. This gives parents a contact route for discussing support. CPOMS is used across the school to share and track welfare concerns, and parents can contact the office about a child’s wellbeing.
Attending Rossmore Pre-School does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process. Rossmore follows Cheshire West and Chester’s arrangements, and its admissions page directs parents to the council’s Reception application route.
Educational continuity is a separate matter. A shared EYFS team works across pre-school and Reception to support development. That connection concerns children’s learning; it does not secure admission.
The funded offer covers 38 weeks, following school terms and excluding bank holidays and INSET days. Rossmore accepts both 15-hour and 30-hour funding. Funded time can be used on weekdays during term time, within the 8.45am to 3.15pm window; additional sessions carry a charge. Refer to the school for current charges.
Wraparound care for three- and four-year-olds operates from 8am to 6pm. Holiday provision is outsourced to Full of Beans for up to 48 weeks of the year, so it is distinct from the term-time pre-school offer. To enquire or arrange a visit, call 0151 329 3688. Bring wellies and a puddle suit for outdoor play, alongside the labelled water bottle.
The pre-school provides early-years education for children aged three and four.
No. Reception requires a separate application through the normal admissions process; Rossmore directs families to Cheshire West and Chester’s Reception admissions route.
Rossmore accepts 15 and 30 funded hours. They can be used Monday to Friday in term time between 8.45am and 3.15pm, over 38 weeks excluding bank holidays and INSET days.
Bring a labelled water bottle, wellies and a puddle suit. Children attending a full-day session need a packed lunch. Morning and afternoon snacks are provided, with milk until age five.
Wraparound care for children aged three and four runs from 8am to 6pm. Full of Beans runs the outsourced holiday club for up to 48 weeks of the year.
