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Nursery at Sol Christian Academy
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Sand, water, storytelling and sound games give Sol Christian Academy’s nursery its character: children can choose their own activities, while adults guide their learning. This is nursery provision within an independent school with a Christian ethos in Ardwick, Manchester, rather than a separate childcare setting.
The school admits children from age two. At the inspection of 20 to 22 March 2024, Ofsted judged early years provision Good. That judgement covered the school’s early years, rather than a separately inspected nursery. Children were developing independence, confidence, relationships and problem-solving skills, giving their learning a foundation beyond reading and counting.
Play and adult guidance share the day. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines physical, social and language development with early literacy, mathematics, creative expression and exploration of the world. Children initiate activities themselves, join tasks led by adults and explore outdoors. The balance gives them room to follow an interest and practise something new with support.
Twinkl Phonics Programme sessions take place daily, alongside Letters and Sounds guidance. Nursery learning starts at Phase 1: listening closely, recognising sounds and practising how spoken sounds combine or separate. Stories, singing, conversation and imaginative play add opportunities to use new vocabulary. In March 2024, nursery children enjoyed participating in rhymes, songs and stories; staff used their knowledge of children’s existing skills to shape subsequent learning.
Mathematics also uses Twinkl, with objects to handle, games and practical problems. Counting, spotting patterns and comparing quantities connect numbers to things children can see and move. Classroom areas include small-world play, construction, creative activities and spaces for writing and mathematics, alongside sand and water. These give children several ways to explore an idea rather than relying on a single activity.
Outdoor learning sits alongside science, music and art. Visits and visiting guests connect learning with experiences beyond the classroom. Football takes place on Mondays and PE on Fridays, with PE kit required for both.
Staff track development through photographs, learning journeys, observations and assessments. These inform subsequent activities and help identify where a child needs additional support. The emphasis is on adjusting learning to the child’s stage of development.
Across the school, SEND support can include sensory provision, individual programmes, adult assistance and teaching in smaller groups, including for children with Education, Health and Care Plans. Parents and relevant professionals contribute to understanding needs and reviewing progress. These are school-wide support arrangements, so the useful discussion is how they would work for an individual nursery child.
Lunch comes from home. Families provide a balanced packed lunch, including vegetables or fruit, protein and other food groups, with water or milk to drink. Peanut products are excluded because of allergies; sweets, chocolate bars and fizzy drinks should also be left out. This makes lunch preparation part of the family’s daily routine.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal route and meet the relevant deadline. Treat the nursery choice and the Reception application as separate decisions.
Eligible two-year-olds may receive 15 funded hours; eligible working families with three- and four-year-olds may receive 30. The team helps families with eligibility and applications. Childcare vouchers are accepted, and families can also use Tax-Free Childcare. Contact the school for current charges.
School uniform is required. Visits can be arranged by appointment through admin@solacademy.org.uk, with opportunities to see learning spaces, meet staff and discuss a child’s needs. For enquiries, telephone 0161 637 2944. The address is 115 Fairfield Street, Manchester, M12 6EL.
No. Reception requires a separate application through the normal route by the relevant deadline.
Daily sessions use the Twinkl Phonics Programme alongside Letters and Sounds guidance. Nursery children start with Phase 1 listening and spoken-sound activities.
Yes. Families provide a balanced packed lunch. Peanut products, sweets, chocolate bars and fizzy drinks should be excluded.
Eligible two-year-olds may receive 15 hours, and eligible working families with three- and four-year-olds may receive 30 hours. The school helps with eligibility and applications.
Visits are by appointment. Email admin@solacademy.org.uk to arrange one and discuss your child’s needs.
