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Nursery at Lift Hall Road
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Seeds, light and oxygen give a flavour of learning in Lift Hall Road’s nursery: children were using these words to explain germination in March 2024. Small discoveries have a place here. Known as Foundation 1 (F1), the nursery caters for children aged 3–4 and shares an early years unit with Foundation 2, giving children regular contact with the staff they may meet next.
Ofsted judged early years provision Good at the inspection on 5 and 6 March 2024. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision rather than a separately inspected nursery.
Play and adult guidance alternate through the day. Group maths, phonics, snacks, topic activities and stories sit alongside continuous provision: periods when children can pursue learning through the activities around them. Both morning and afternoon routines include opportunities indoors and outside. This gives children time to explore as well as join a group.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings care and learning together. Here, its priorities include helping children express themselves, manage feelings, build relationships and develop physical skills. Number work includes patterns and shapes; creative activities involve imaginative play, music and art. Early literacy and exploration of the world sit alongside these, rather than making the nursery day solely about reading and counting.
Books have a named place in the early years curriculum through the Favourite Five reading spine, refreshed each half term, alongside Read Write Inc. Story sessions also feature in both halves of the F1 routine, making listening to stories a recurring part of the day.
Vocabulary development. In March 2024, nursery children could recall scientific language about germination, but the words to be taught were not clearly identified across every early years learning area. The inspection required more consistent vocabulary planning. The concrete science example is encouraging, while the wider curriculum needed greater precision.
Settling is approached as a partnership with parents. The nursery team aims to help children feel secure by working closely with families, and regular communication supports discussion of each child’s needs and progress. Comfortable clothes and manageable footwear are encouraged to help children do things for themselves; a spare outfit stays on their peg for changes.
A snack table supplies crackers, fruit, water and milk during the day. Children attending full time can choose between food brought from home and an on-site meal based on a seasonal menu. Families should tell the school about allergies or other dietary needs so suitable arrangements can be made.
Support extends beyond the nursery team. The school’s inclusion team includes speech and language support and pastoral support, with a SENCo coordinating special educational needs provision. For children with medical needs, care plans are developed with parents and shared with the staff involved. Nursery entrances and gates are secured during the day, play and learning are supervised, and dismissal involves two staff members.
Attending this nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process. Applications use the Common Application Form, administered by the family’s home local authority, with an online route through that authority’s admissions service.
The shared unit offers familiarity, not an admissions entitlement. F1 children have ongoing contact with Foundation 2 and its staff, so relationships can develop before the next stage begins.
Morning, afternoon and full-day sessions are offered. The nursery accepts government funding for 15 or 30 hours, with additional sessions available for payment. Contact the school office about availability, visits and current charges on 01482 441151 or at contactus@lifthallroad.org.
Uniform is encouraged for nursery children. Clothing should be comfortable and footwear easy to manage; branded uniform is optional. Earrings are prohibited throughout the Foundation Stage. These practical choices support independence while keeping clothing suitable for nursery activities.
Foundation 1 caters for children aged 3–4.
Morning, afternoon and full-day sessions are offered. The nursery accepts 15-hour and 30-hour government funding, with additional paid sessions where needed.
The snack table provides milk, water, fruit and crackers. Full-time children can bring a packed lunch or have an on-site meal using a seasonal menu.
No. Families must apply separately through the normal admissions process, using their home local authority’s Common Application Form route.
Contact the school office on 01482 441151 or email contactus@lifthallroad.org to discuss availability and arrange a visit.
