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Nursery at Cavendish 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Bikes, a climbing frame and four seasonal Forest School sessions give Cavendish Nursery a practical, outdoor dimension alongside its daily language and reading work. Play has substantial space in the day. Children belong to the Bee Group or Ladybird Group, within Cavendish Primary School on Cavendish Road in West Didsbury, Manchester. The school takes children from 3 years old.
Short teaching sessions punctuate longer periods of play. At 9am, children work on communication, language and literacy; at 11am, attention turns to phonics and reading. Each carpet session lasts between 15 and 20 minutes. Between these sessions, continuous provision means children develop their learning through play, choosing resources and activities for themselves rather than following an adult through every task.
Indoors and outside, the learning areas include water and sand, pretend play, books, creative work and mark-making. Children can reach resources independently. That gives them practice in making choices as well as opportunities to revisit an idea through different materials. Cavendish aims to use the outdoors in all weathers, encouraging children to investigate with their senses.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together language, relationships, physical development, literacy, maths, understanding the world and creative expression. Here, that translates into practical experiences: playdough and cutting exercise small movements, while bikes and the climbing frame involve larger ones. Nursery children also use the hall for PE. Counting and problem-solving involve objects children can handle; cameras and programmable toys introduce technology through exploration.
For full-time children, an afternoon carpet session explores number, patterns, shape and size. More play follows, before stories or nursery rhymes at 2:30pm. Four Forest School taster sessions, one per season, give children opportunities to explore seasonal change with a trained Forest School teacher. From the spring term, the Lending Library adds a weekly book chosen by the child to share at home, bringing stories into family time.
Teachers and teaching assistants help children settle into classroom routines, including putting coats away. Both nursery groups have teaching and teaching-assistant support, with an early years assistant head providing leadership. The practical emphasis is on helping children become familiar with everyday tasks.
Lunch takes place in the main dining hall, with lunchtime supervisors supporting the children. A fruit or vegetable snack and milk are also provided. These are distinct parts of the routine alongside teaching and play.
Class Dojo lets parents send private messages to their child's teacher. Staff are also available at the start and finish of the day, and longer conversations can be arranged. For additional needs, the SEND coordinator's remit includes nursery. The school's approach uses the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) Five-a-day principle to adapt teaching. With parents, staff may create a One Page Profile recording strategies that help an individual child day to day. This gives families a concrete way to contribute to support.
Attending Cavendish Nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply separately for Reception through Manchester City Council's admissions service, using the normal application route and deadline. Nursery applications go to the school itself. Treat the two applications as separate decisions when planning your child's next step.
All nursery children start at 8:40am. The part-time place is described as 15 hours, finishing at 11:40am; the full-time place is described as 30 hours, finishing at 3:10pm. Both groups are collected from the front of the school. These different finishing times make the choice of session consequential for family routines.
Cavendish Out of School Club accepts nursery children and operates from an annexe behind the playground. During term time, its weekday sessions run from 7:45am to 8:50am and from 3:15pm to 6pm. Bookings through School Gateway depend on availability and can cover one session or a whole term. Contact the school for current charges. Cavendish Holiday Club also accepts children from nursery age (3), providing care during school holidays and teacher training days from 7:30am to 6pm.
For nursery enquiries, email admissions@cavendish.manchester.sch.uk or telephone 0161 445 1815. Applications use the Cavendish Application form, returned to the school by email or completed there on paper.
The school takes children from 3 years old.
Children start at 8:40am. Part-time children finish at 11:40am and full-time children finish at 3:10pm. The places are described as 15 hours and 30 hours respectively.
Children can choose activities in the outdoor area, which includes bikes and a climbing frame. The nursery aims to go outside in all weathers, and children have four Forest School taster sessions, one in each season.
Parents can send private messages through Class Dojo, speak to staff at the beginning or end of the day, or arrange a longer meeting. Urgent matters go to the school office on 0161 445 1815.
No. Reception requires a separate application through Manchester City Council's admissions service. Nursery applications are handled by the school.
