Tintwistle CofE (Aided) Primary School Nursery

Letters and sounds stand out in Tintwistle’s February 2023 early-years findings. In February 2023, children in Tintwistle’s early years were developing their knowledge of both quickly, with reading introduced from the beginning. That gives families a concrete picture of one strand of learning: an early start on the building blocks of reading.

Nursery provision forms part of Tintwistle CofE (Aided) Primary School, a Church of England school on South Close in Tintwistle, Glossop. The school’s intake begins at three. The nursery therefore sits within a primary school rather than operating as a separate standalone setting.

Early reading is the clearest feature of the learning described in February 2023. Children began learning to read in the early years and developed their understanding of letters and their sounds at pace. Ofsted’s inspection on 2 February 2023 found that phonics teaching helped children at the beginning of their reading journey develop confidence and fluency. For parents, the practical significance is the connection between learning sounds and using that knowledge to read.

Learning also followed a planned sequence. Across the curriculum, including the early years, the knowledge children were expected to acquire was divided into manageable stages. This gives a purpose to individual learning activities: they contribute towards knowledge that is developed step by step, rather than standing alone.

There was a qualification to that picture. In February 2023, the intended knowledge needed sharper definition in a few subjects, including within the early years. Some subject leaders also needed to strengthen their checks on how teaching put curriculum plans into practice. The improvement action called for training and support so leaders could recognise successful delivery and pinpoint what needed further development. For families, this matters alongside the positive reading findings: planning learning and checking its delivery are separate responsibilities.

Inclusion extends to the learning programme. In February 2023, the curriculum taught from the early years onwards included children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The relevant point for families is participation in that curriculum, with SEND included in its scope rather than treated as a separate educational pathway.

Attending this nursery does not guarantee a place in the school’s Reception class. Nursery admission and Reception admission are separate processes. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet the applicable deadline. Choosing the nursery should therefore be a decision about the nursery experience itself; the later school application remains a distinct step.

The school’s address is South Close, Tintwistle, Glossop, SK13 1LY, and its telephone number is 01457852611. Use this school contact for a nursery enquiry. Keep the nursery enquiry and the later Reception application separate when organising your child’s next steps.