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Nursery at Broad Oak Primary School
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
A book corner, a Nursery garden and stories shared with friends give Oak Class its character. Broad Oak Primary School’s nursery has 26 places and sits within its Early Years provision in East Didsbury, with the school’s entry age starting at three. It is a classroom-based introduction to school life, with play and practical exploration alongside direct teaching.
Ofsted judged early years provision Good at the inspection on 21 and 22 May 2024. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery. The nursery-specific finding was encouraging: children shared stories with adults and other children, giving conversation a place in their early reading experience.
Learning combines adult teaching with activities children explore through play. The Early Years Foundation Stage, or EYFS, brings together movement, communication and emotional development with early maths, literacy, creativity and learning about the world. For parents, that means learning extends beyond recognising letters or counting: listening, managing relationships and using the body are part of the curriculum too.
Books provide a daily anchor. Nursery story time uses a text for the week, supplemented by related stories and children’s choices from the book corner. Read Write Inc. provides the school’s phonics structure; nursery phonics lessons last 20 to 30 minutes each day, with groups organised by their stage of learning.
An Oak Class update dated 31 March 2025 shows how those ideas become activities. Children explored rhyme through stories, danced to rhythms and followed red and green signals while playing instruments. A listening walk in the playground turned surrounding sounds into something to notice and discuss. Maths involved sorting shapes and finding shapes that fitted a space. These are concrete ways to practise attention, language and spatial understanding.
Outside, the Nursery garden includes areas maintained with wood chippings by volunteers from Didsbury Community Church. The Early Years outdoor space supports cycling, building, jumping and running. An autumn 2023 nursery account also describes climbing and balancing equipment, alongside Hide and Seek and Going on a Bear Hunt. Movement and group play have physical space here.
Home communication runs through School Spider on the Early Years page, with individual family messages handled through the parent app. Teachers aim to respond within two days; urgent daytime messages go through the office by telephone. Brief conversations can happen at classroom doors, while longer discussions need an appointment. That distinction helps parents choose the appropriate route for a concern.
Lunch runs from 11.45am to 12.45pm, supervised by lunchtime organisers, teaching assistants and a senior leader. Families can order school meals through School Grid or send a packed lunch. Nursery children receive fruit daily, and water remains accessible throughout the day. A labelled water bottle is part of the daily kit.
For additional needs, the school’s inclusion and SENCO contact is sendco@broadoak.manchester.sch.uk. Broad Oak also introduces Makaton, using symbols and signs alongside speech to support communication. Families can use that contact to discuss their child’s needs directly.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. Manchester City Council’s Admissions Team handles Reception places, so joining Oak Class and applying for Reception are separate decisions.
Use Manchester’s admissions service for the Reception application. Familiarity with Broad Oak should never be treated as confirmation of a future place.
The Early Years offer allows flexibility over attendance days and use of the 30-hour funded entitlement, including Breakfast Club and After School Club. The Early Years page gives Breakfast Club hours of 7.45am to 8.45am and After School Club hours of 3.20pm to 5.45pm. Breakfast sessions require advance booking; after-school applications go through the admin team.
Classrooms accept children from 8.45am, and the Early Years collection gate opens at 3.15pm. Tell the class teacher when someone different will collect your child. Clothing includes a purple cardigan or sweatshirt, a white polo shirt and grey trousers, with a waterproof hooded coat for the weather. Label belongings clearly.
For nursery enquiries, email admin@broadoak.manchester.sch.uk or telephone 0161 445 6577. The office handles requests to join the nursery waiting list.
The nursery is Oak Class, within Broad Oak’s Early Years provision. It has 26 places.
The Early Years outdoor area supports running, jumping, cycling and building. A nursery account from autumn 2023 describes climbing, balancing and group games.
Families can order school meals through School Grid or provide a packed lunch. Nursery children receive a piece of fruit each day and have access to water.
Broad Oak’s Early Years offer allows the 30-hour funded entitlement to be used flexibly, including access to Breakfast Club and After School Club.
No. Reception requires a separate application through Manchester City Council’s Admissions Team, following the normal admissions process and deadline.
