Nursery at Crown Street 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Messy play and an Early Years outdoor space give Crown Street Pre-School a practical identity within its Manchester city-centre setting. This is the nursery provision at Crown Street Primary School, on Silvercroft Street in the New Jackson neighbourhood, between Elizabeth Tower and The Blade.
The Pre-School provides 24 places each year for children in the year before school. For the September 2026 intake, eligibility covered children born between 1st September 2022 and 31st August 2023. Its first children started in September 2024. There is no Ofsted graded rating yet.
The day runs from 8.45am to 3.15pm. Learning follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), with seven connected areas rather than a timetable built solely around reading and number work. Talking, physical development and learning to manage feelings and relationships form the foundations. Literacy, mathematics, expressive arts and design, and understanding the world extend those foundations into other kinds of learning.
For parents, that means communication and social development sit alongside early academic skills. Crown Street gives spoken language a central role across learning, making conversation part of the educational purpose rather than simply a break between activities.
Messy play is part of the experience, with the daily polo shirt intended to protect children's home clothes. There is also an Early Years outdoor space. Books provide a specific example of the learning themes: in February 2025, the Pre-School's World Book Day costume suggestions used Jabari Tries, a story about an inventor who keeps trying and asks for help. Patience and collaboration give the story a purpose beyond dressing up.
A Pre-School teacher sits within a team that includes an EYFS Lead, a SENDCo and a SEND teacher. For a family concerned about additional needs, the school provides a direct sequence: speak to the class teacher or contact the SENDCo, who discusses concerns, gathers information with the teacher and then talks through next steps with parents.
Crown Street says support should respond to each child's needs. Its school-wide approach includes contact with previous settings before children start, observations in different situations and termly assessments. This gives parents several points at which to share concerns, including needs that affect social or emotional development rather than attainment alone.
Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the local authority where they live; Manchester residents apply through Manchester City Council. For entry in September 2027, the deadline is 15th January 2027. Treat that application as a separate task even if your child already attends Pre-School.
A summer-term induction event for parents and carers forms part of preparation for starting Reception. That preparation is separate from the allocation of places.
The logo polo shirt is required each day, while a Pre-School jumper or cardigan is optional. Families can pair the polo with trousers, leggings or a school dress, and clothing should carry the child's full name.
Contact the School Office on 0161 549 7150 for enquiries or to arrange a guided tour. Plan collection around the city-centre location: parents cannot drive up to the building, and nearby parking is limited. Deansgate Castlefield is the nearest tram stop, while scooter and bicycle storage is available near the entrance. Walking or public transport therefore deserves consideration when planning the daily journey.
Children attend in the year before starting school. For September 2026 entry, the eligible birth dates were 1st September 2022 to 31st August 2023.
The Pre-School day runs from 8.45am to 3.15pm.
No. A separate Reception application is required through your home local authority. The deadline for September 2027 entry is 15th January 2027.
Children wear the Crown Street Pre-School logo polo shirt daily. A Pre-School jumper or cardigan is optional, and all uniform should be labelled with the child's full name.
Speak to the class teacher or contact the SENDCo. The SENDCo discusses concerns, gathers information with the teacher and discusses the next steps with parents.
