Alma Park Primary School Nursery

Number hunts, minibeast investigations and Little Wandle Phase 1 Rhymes give Alma Park’s nursery a concrete mix of discovery, early maths and language. This is the school’s own nursery in Levenshulme, with entry in September for children who have turned three before the end of August. Families can choose full-time or part-time attendance.

Independence runs through the everyday routines. Children practise managing their coats, cleaning their hands and putting toys away. Each child has a personal tray for belongings, alongside a peg for a bag of spare clothing. These small responsibilities make self-care part of the nursery experience.

Play and investigation shape the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum: children learn by exploring, trying things and talking about their discoveries. Indoor classrooms and outdoor classrooms receive equal attention in planning. Outdoor learning is part of the curriculum, rather than simply a break from it.

The nursery’s activity examples connect several kinds of learning. Minibeast work includes investigating creatures outside, considering their habitats and watching plants develop. Children explore movement through insect-inspired dance and use textures and shapes in artwork. Those activities give a shared topic different forms, from observation to physical expression.

Maths includes recognising small quantities immediately, counting, finding numbers and examining the sides of shapes. Children also explore patterns and put daily events into order. Mark-making activities include circles, crosses and lines, with adults encouraging children to explain what their marks mean. Pretend lists and picture labels give those early writing attempts a purpose.

Little Wandle Phase 1 Rhymes adds a named approach to early language work. Stories and picture discussion happen daily, and introductory reading sessions cover handling pages and talking about the action. At the March 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that early-years children developed confidence through frequent exchanges with adults, alongside songs, rhymes and stories. That finding concerns the early years within the school, rather than a separate nursery grade.

Wellcomm gives language development a specific structure. Children work towards individual targets, which are shared with parents so that home and nursery can work on the same goals. Home languages are valued too. Families can speak directly to nursery staff or use nursery@almapark.manchester.sch.uk for questions.

Preparation for starting includes an Introduction to Nursery for Parent/Carers presentation. The nursery application asks about additional needs, allergies, hearing, speech and other relevant medical history, as well as professionals already involved. Accurate information matters: the form warns that full admission may be delayed while previously undeclared needs are assessed and addressed. For concerns affecting learning, the class teacher is the first contact.

Meals are supplied through Trafford Catering. Nursery families can choose a school meal or packed lunch, and the application records halal, vegan, vegetarian and other dietary requirements. School meals are charged unless benefit-related eligibility applies; families should obtain current charges from the school. The eligibility application goes to Manchester City Council.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Manchester City Council’s online process. The admission categories listed by the school cover children who are or have been looked after, exceptional medical or social needs or a disabled parent, siblings and other applicants; nursery attendance does not confer priority under those categories.

For the September 2026 Reception intake, the application deadline was 15 January 2026. That cycle has passed. The school also offers an Introduction to Reception for Parents/Carers presentation and a Reception Transition Home Learning Booklet as resources for the next step. Preparation and admission remain separate questions.

Part-time attendance runs across Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, using the universal 15-hour entitlement. Full-time places cover Monday to Friday and can be supported by a 30-hour code or paid for. Nursery opens at 8.45am and finishes at 3.10pm, with the earlier collection time designed to leave families time to collect older children afterwards.

For admissions enquiries, email admin@almapark.manchester.sch.uk. The school office also arranges visits by appointment. Reading books are exchanged on Tuesdays; purple Brainbuilder books go home on Wednesdays and are due back by the following Tuesday. Send labelled spare clothes in a bag for your child’s peg.