E-ACT Blackley Academy Nursery Review

Sounds, stories and growing independence give Blackley’s nursery its character. This is the nursery class within E-ACT Blackley Academy on Victoria Avenue in Blackley, Manchester, where the school’s age range begins at three. For children starting nursery, the emphasis is on language and learning familiar routines.

At the inspection of 12 and 13 March 2024, Ofsted judged early years provision Good. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision, including its nursery. Confidence and independence were specific strengths in the early years, giving parents a useful picture of the personal skills encouraged alongside learning.

Language comes first. Nursery children explore stories and sounds as they develop their language, building foundations for later reading. The emphasis gives early reading a starting point that parents can recognise: getting to know language before tackling the next stage of formal reading instruction.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum puts learning in a planned sequence. In March 2024, early years learning was organised so that children could connect new knowledge with things they already understood. For parents, that means these early experiences have a purpose beyond the individual activity: each contributes to the next step in learning.

Routines also matter. Their early introduction in nursery helped children adjust to school in March 2024. Learning how the day works is part of becoming comfortable in a class, alongside developing the confidence to participate and the independence to do more for themselves.

Support for additional needs begins with several ways of recognising a concern. At Blackley, these include information from a child’s previous setting, concerns from families or staff, contact with external agencies and a paediatric diagnosis. Learning below expectations for a child’s age is another trigger. This gives families more than one starting point for discussing support.

Parents can speak to the class teacher, SENCO, Deputy SENCO or safeguarding team about concerns. Those roles provide clear points of contact, whether a family is bringing information from an earlier setting or raising something they have noticed themselves.

Food brought into school needs to respect its nut-free rule. That is a practical consideration for families preparing anything their child will eat at nursery.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process. Applications go through the home local authority, including for families who live outside the local area; Manchester City Council is the application route linked for Blackley.

Treat that application as a separate task from joining nursery. Becoming familiar with school routines can help a child settle into school life, but it does not secure an admission offer.

Nursery entry has its own application form. For enquiries, contact the school office on 0161 740 2185 or email Blackley.Office@E-ACT.org.uk. Keep nursery enquiries and the later Reception application distinct so that both processes receive attention.