Wavertree Church of England School Nursery Review

Drawing, painting and loose-part creations give Wavertree’s early years provision a practical, creative character. Children make things independently, with friends and through activities led by adults. That gives them different ways to explore an idea and express it.

This is the nursery provision within Wavertree Church of England School, at Rose Villas in Liverpool. The wider school occupies a Victorian building overlooking the Mystery. Its Christian identity includes values such as compassion and forgiveness, placing the nursery within a school community with an explicitly faith-based ethos.

Play provides the starting point. The school explains the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) as learning through children’s own play alongside experiences adults guide. For parents, this means that conversation, relationships and physical development sit alongside early literacy, maths, creativity and discovering how the world works. Activities respond to children’s interests and developmental needs.

Art gives that framework a concrete shape here. Early years children experiment with drawing and painting techniques, then explore loose parts and other materials. Creative learning happens indoors and outside, with outdoor work taking a larger scale. Children can work alone or collaborate, so making something also creates opportunities to share ideas and negotiate with others.

Photographs and displays recognise their creations. This gives children a visible record of what they have made. Books also connect early years with the wider school: a World Book Day activity paired older pupils with early years children for shared reading.

Relationships help children establish familiar routines. At the December 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that early years staff built close connections with new children, helping them settle promptly. This finding concerns the early years within the school.

The EYFS parent guide explains the key person’s role in exchanging information with families and discussing developmental concerns. For children needing additional support, the school’s 2024/25 SEND policy describes an assess, plan, do and review cycle. Early years provision and its impact are documented in a play plan, giving support a specific focus that can be revisited.

Parents contribute through planned discussions. More specialist assessment may involve Alder Hey paediatricians, while families needing several services can be offered a Family Help Assessment. The November 2023 SEND information report also lists a Safe Space within school provision, providing a separate place for support with emotional needs.

School meals are supplied by Food for Thought. Its parent pack describes daily cooking in the school kitchen and directs dietary discussions to the school. This makes the catering team’s approach relevant when considering a child’s food requirements.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply separately through the normal admissions process by the applicable deadline.

For September 2024 entry, the school’s policy used Liverpool Local Authority’s coordinated arrangements. Its oversubscription priorities covered care status, exceptional medical or social needs, siblings and other applicants; nursery attendance was not a priority criterion for that cycle. Treat the Reception application as a separate decision from choosing the nursery.

The EYFS uniform combines a blue sweatshirt or cardigan with a lemon polo shirt and royal blue jogging bottoms. Matching non-logo sweatshirts and cardigans are permitted. The emphasis is on clothing children can move and learn in comfortably; label their belongings.

Enquiries can go through the school’s contact form, by email to wavertree-ao@wavertree.liverpool.sch.uk or by telephone on 0151 7331231. The school follows Liverpool Local Authority term dates and plans five staff-training days, so the school calendar matters when arranging family childcare.