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Nursery at Rossall 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Yoghurt painting for babies and a home built for a lonely ladybird give Rossall’s nursery its character: learning starts with things small children want to explore. Children can join from three months old, with nursery provision continuing to age four. The nursery occupies a refurbished building within the school’s 160-acre campus and shares its building with the pre-preparatory school.
At the ISI inspection of 29 to 31 October 2024, the registered early years provision received an outstanding judgement for overall effectiveness. Its education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management were also outstanding.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines planned learning with opportunities for children to pursue their own interests. At Rossall, that means building communication, early number and letter knowledge, and physical skills through practical activities. Babies use brushes of different sizes to spread yoghurt-based paint across large surfaces. Older children’s learning builds towards the skills needed for school.
Language runs through the day. Adults explain unfamiliar words and use books to deepen children’s understanding, including a familiar story to explore loud and soft sounds. Walk and Talk outings connect this learning with the world outside: an autumn walk prompted conversations about changing seasons and colours, followed by counting and matching activities. Experiences become something to talk about, then something to build on.
Indoor sand play gives babies opportunities to explore alongside others. Outdoors, toddlers draw friends into imaginative games, while pre-school children collaborated on a ladybird home after finding the insect. These are useful opportunities to practise sharing ideas and working together. A cultural passport adds another personal thread: parents share children’s experiences and family backgrounds, helping staff shape activities and conversations around the children they know.
Settling begins with a transition day, giving children time to try activities and become familiar with the nursery. Conversations with parents and detailed entry forms help staff learn children’s preferences, including babies’ food and settling routines. Moves between rooms are gradual, with sessions in the next room helping children feel comfortable before changing classes.
Care routines also build independence. Babies practise feeding themselves; toddlers learn toileting skills and collect their drinks. Meals and snacks are nutritious, and pre-school children explore healthy eating by tasting fruit and vegetables. Familiar daily routines help children move between activities, while staff offer comfort when children need it, including after sleep.
Parents receive verbal updates and feedback through an online communication tool. The progress check at age two is shared with families, and learning bags and a lending library provide ways to continue activities at home. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive learning adapted to their needs, with help for parents to obtain specialist support such as speech and language therapy. Safeguarding was effective in October 2024, with trained safeguarding leads, regular staff knowledge checks and daily checks of indoor and outdoor areas.
Rossall guarantees a Reception place to children attending its Nursery and Pre-School. That is a specific admission arrangement here. Families planning to continue should distinguish the Reception move from their nursery session booking.
Practical preparation happens separately: pre-school children begin having some lunches alongside Reception children in the dining hall. Familiarity with the space and older children makes the next stage less abrupt. Staff also prepare children moving to other schools by discussing the uniforms they will wear.
The 2025/26 session pattern included mornings from 8am to 1pm with lunch, afternoons from 1pm to 6pm, and full-day or full-week bookings. An Early Bird session ran from 7:30am to 8:30am by prior booking. A minimum attendance of two days a week is preferred.
For 2024/25, Rossall offered both 15 and 30 funded hours, with funding available from the term after a child’s second birthday. Meals, snacks, drinks and additional items were included, with occasional activity charges communicated ahead of time. In the 2025/26 arrangements, Sandpiper full days included lunch, nappies and wipes; pre-school full days included lunch. Early Bird attendance and late collection carry separate charges. Contact the school for current charges.
Enquiries go to the nursery team, and families can book an individual visit or an open day. Uniform information comes with the welcome pack after accepting a place.
Children can join from three months old, and the nursery caters for children up to age four.
Activities include stories, painting, sand play and outdoor imaginative play. Walk and Talk outings link conversations about the world outside with counting, colours and new vocabulary.
Children have a settling or transition day. Staff use discussions with parents and entry forms to learn their routines and preferences, then arrange transition sessions when children are ready to move rooms.
Yes. Rossall guarantees a place in its Reception class to children attending its Nursery and Pre-School.
The 2025/26 arrangements included mornings from 8am to 1pm with lunch and afternoons from 1pm to 6pm for Sandpiper and Pre-School, alongside full-day and full-week bookings.
