Butterstile Primary School Nursery

Two rooms, outdoor play and friendships across age groups give Butterstile’s nursery its character. It belongs to the school’s Early Years Unit in Prestwich, which serves children aged 3 to 5. A distinct nursery group sits within that shared provision: children spend part of their time together and part in their own class group.

Butterstile believes young children learn through play. The arrangement gives children choices about their activities and companions, while keeping a nursery base for more focused learning.

Choice and structure alternate through the day. Children can join activities across the two rooms and outdoors, playing independently or with friends of different ages. Quiet play and active play both have a place. That gives a child room to follow an interest, try an idea or spend time with another group rather than remain with the same classmates throughout.

Base times bring the nursery group together during morning and afternoon sessions. Listening and conversation sit alongside maths, early writing, reading and phonics activities. Children also undertake focused tasks with an adult, with more of these introduced as the year progresses. Play remains part of the learning pattern; adult guidance adds another element.

The Early Years Foundation Stage provides the framework for this early learning. Here, its practical shape includes communication, play and adult-supported activities. Forest School also extends outdoor learning to nursery children, giving nature a place alongside classroom experiences.

Across Butterstile, six themes organise the year, one per half term. They include Water, Community and Wellbeing, alongside Earth, Economy and Equality. These connect the curriculum with local and global questions. Within the early years unit, children work and play with the whole staff team, rather than interacting only with the adults attached to their base group.

Speech and language support has a specific place here. A qualified speech and language therapist works at Butterstile for 2 days a week and assesses every nursery child. Staff receive help with interventions for individuals or groups, and children needing more detailed support can be referred to the NHS speech and language service. This provides a route from identifying a difficulty to arranging further help.

ParentHub and Seesaw carry everyday school communication. Families obtain their Seesaw class code from the class teacher, making access to these channels a practical part of staying in touch.

Pastoral support extends to families as well as children. The school’s pastoral lead liaises with parents, staff and outside agencies, with help covering child development worries, wellbeing and family concerns. Butterstile also runs a food bank and receives cooked meals weekly from Eat Well Mcr for families needing food support. These are family support arrangements, separate from the nursery lunch routine. Nursery lunchtime is 11.50am to 12.40pm.

Attending Butterstile’s nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process. Butterstile participates in Bury’s coordinated scheme, with Bury’s primary admissions service providing the online application route.

Shared early years play gives nursery children contact with older children and the unit’s staff. That creates everyday familiarity within the setting, but it must be kept separate from the question of securing a school place.

The school office handles nursery enquiries and can arrange a school visit. Contact 0161 798 5680 or butterstile@bury.gov.uk to discuss accessing the provision or book a look around.

For autumn 2026, the school’s current half term ends on 22 October, with the next beginning on 2 November and ending on 18 December. These dates help families plan around school breaks.