Littleborough Community Primary School Nursery

A grassed outdoor area, a shuttered canopy and flexible sessions give Littleborough’s nursery its character: play has room indoors and outside, while families can combine mornings and afternoons. This is the school’s own nursery on Calderbrook Road, taking children from age three, with September, January and April entry points.

The nursery sits within secure early years accommodation. Its teacher also leads the Foundation Stage, and a teaching assistant supports the class. Ofsted graded early years provision Good at the inspection on 19 and 20 November 2024; that judgement covers the school’s early years provision rather than a separately inspected nursery.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) organises learning into seven areas. Here, that means children develop language, physical skills and relationships alongside early literacy, mathematics, creative work and exploration of the world. Children choose some activities themselves; adults guide others. Those staying for both sessions have additional planned learning that builds on earlier work.

Listening comes before formal reading. Nursery phonics concentrates on Phase 1, helping children distinguish sounds and practise joining spoken sounds together or separating them. Essential Letters and Sounds is the named phonics scheme. Stories, drama and pretend play give children reasons to talk, listen and exchange ideas. Pre-writing work includes patterns, circles and lines, handling objects and learning to control a pencil.

Outdoor learning has concrete resources behind it. Scooters, bikes and trikes support movement and coordination; the canopy makes outdoor access possible in poor weather. Dance, games and gymnastics take place in the school hall. Visits to nearby woodland and parks bring learning about the environment beyond the classroom. A circus visit also gave nursery children a chance to try tricks and practise tightrope balance.

In November 2024, children in early years showed enthusiasm for learning, and adults successfully developed their communication skills. There was also a clear weakness: some activities did too little to extend learning and occasionally slowed progress. Staff needed further expertise in designing tasks that deepened understanding. For parents, the distinction matters: an appealing activity needs a clear learning purpose too.

Lunch club lets children bridge the morning and afternoon within the nursery. For those using The Lion Club, breakfast choices include fruit, cereal, toast and a drink, while the afternoon club supplies a snack. School staff run the clubs, which use the dining hall.

Support follows the school’s assess, plan, do and review cycle. Classroom adjustments can be supplemented by individual or small-group work, with speech and language therapy and Rochdale Additional Needs Service among the outside services involved. Parents can discuss concerns with the class teacher or SENCO, and individual support plans are shared with families. Accessible toilets include one with a changing bed. School Gateway carries updates and essential information through an app.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. The school directs parents to Rochdale Borough Council for primary application forms and admission arrangements.

Children already have opportunities to build friendships across the Foundation Stage through playtimes and assemblies. That familiarity is separate from the decision about allocating Reception places.

Morning sessions run from 8.45am to 11.45am, afternoons from 12.15pm to 3.10pm, and full days from 8.45am to 3.10pm. Families can arrange their funded hours flexibly across the nursery week. The nursery accommodates the 15-hour entitlement and the 30-hour entitlement for eligible families; funded hours apply only within the standard school day. Additional nursery hours depend on availability.

The Lion Club extends care from 7.30am to 8.45am and from 3.15pm to 5.45pm. These sessions are charged separately. Registration forms come from the office, which confirms places; club changes require at least a week’s notice by email. Club collection and drop-off use the Calderbrook Road door.

Contact the office on 01706-378556 or office@littleborough.rochdale.sch.uk for nursery enquiries and current charges. School uniform includes a red jumper or cardigan, white polo shirt and grey trousers or skirt; clothing and equipment should carry the child’s name and class.