Alkrington Primary School Nursery Review

Creative movement gives Alkrington’s nursery a distinctive thread: Rambert Early Moves brings stories, music and imaginative play into regular dance sessions. Alongside the Nursery class for children aged three and four, Rising 3’s caters for two and three-year-olds. Both belong to the school’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), giving younger children provision organised around their stage of development.

Rambert Early Moves centres on exploration rather than rehearsing formal steps. Children experiment with movement and respond to themes, stories and music. Two practitioners have trained to deliver the programme. This gives physical activity a creative purpose, with opportunities to practise balancing, coordinating movements and taking turns while expressing ideas.

The EYFS brings care, development and learning together for young children. Alkrington’s approach draws on Birth to 5 Matters and recognises that children develop differently. Positive relationships and opportunities matched to individual strengths are central to that approach, rather than expecting every child to learn in the same way.

Reading has a daily place in Nursery through whole-class phonics teaching. An outdoor Reading Pod holds books suitable from Rising 3s upwards, with children able to use it during breaks and lunchtime. It puts books within reach beyond classroom teaching. Nursery children also receive at least one PE lesson each week.

In March 2023, Ofsted found that early-years teaching, including the two-year-old provision, helped children distinguish sounds through conversation and books. Children also learnt to sustain attention and respond to instructions from the beginning of their time at school. These are useful foundations for joining in with group learning.

Teachers and teaching assistants form the classroom team. Communication uses several channels with distinct purposes: Tapestry records learning and connects families with Rising 3s and Nursery, Class Dojo carries messages about individual children or classes, and Arbor handles important school information. Parents can therefore follow learning as well as receive practical updates.

For concerns about emotional wellbeing, the first contact is the child’s class teacher, with referral to a mental health lead covering EYFS and Key Stage 1 where appropriate. The school’s SEND provision includes support for learning, sensory, physical and emotional needs; additional staff support some children whose needs attract further funding, ordinarily those with an EHC Plan.

The school meal service works on a three-week rotation, with sandwiches, jacket potatoes and a vegetarian choice alongside the main menu. These are school-wide meal arrangements. A school food bank also supports families, handling requests confidentially and sensitively.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process, meeting its deadline. Alkrington directs Reception applications to Rochdale’s online school admissions service at rochdale.gov.uk/schooladmissions. Choosing the nursery and applying for Reception are separate decisions; families should plan for both.

Applications are being offered for the September 2027 cohorts in both Rising 3’s and Nursery. For the three and four-year-old Nursery cohort, the admissions information describes 15 funded hours for all families, with working families potentially eligible for 30. A paid top-up to full-time attendance is also offered.

The school office handles enquiries by email at office@alkrington.rochdale.sch.uk or telephone on 0161 643 6357. Families interested in a guided tour can contact the office, which will try to arrange a visit. A virtual tour provides another way to explore the school.