St Barnabas CofE Primary Academy Nursery Review

Toy Shop, Once Upon a Time and Going Places give this nursery year its own character: familiar experiences, stories and a widening sense of the world. St Barnabas has 26 nursery places within its Church of England primary academy in Openshaw, Manchester, where provision starts at age three. The nursery has a class teacher and teaching assistants, placing children within a school teaching team from the outset.

At the inspection on 5 and 6 June 2024, Ofsted judged early years provision Good. That is an early years judgement within the school inspection, rather than a separate nursery rating. Relationships between children and adults were positive from the nursery onwards, giving the teaching a supportive social foundation.

A full school day shapes the offer. Nursery starts at 08:40 and finishes at 15:10, with lunch scheduled for 11:30 to 12:15. Full-time places are offered where children are ready for full-time school, so readiness is part of the arrangement rather than an incidental detail.

Development Matters guides the assessment of children's learning. Literacy and mathematics sit alongside topics that change through the year: This is me and Toy Shop in autumn, Once Upon a Time in spring, then Going Places in summer. These give families concrete themes to connect with conversations and reading at home. Nursery has both indoor and outdoor areas, extending its learning environment beyond the classroom.

Personal, social and emotional learning has a regular place too. Jigsaw is taught weekly from nursery onwards, with themes including Healthy Me and Relationships. This gives feelings, health and relationships their own teaching time alongside literacy and maths.

In June 2024, nursery learning was organised to prepare children for later phonics. Early years staff had clear guidance about the learning to develop, helping activities build knowledge progressively. Speech and language support also helped children communicate their choices and join in with others. The emphasis was on participation as well as preparation for reading.

Starting school is supported through guidance for families on the move from home to nursery, independence and toilet training. The nursery encourages parents to read, talk and play with their children through Shine at St Barnabas, connecting learning at home with the early years team.

Parents can arrange a discussion with the class teacher or SENCO about their child's progress. For families considering accessibility, school facilities include wheelchair access at entrances and into rooms, alongside an accessible toilet. These are practical features of the wider school premises.

Food includes free vegetable and fruit snacks for nursery children, with choices such as carrots, apples and bananas. Toast can also be purchased. School lunches are cooked fresh in the school kitchen each day, making food part of the school routine rather than something families must organise entirely themselves.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal Manchester local authority admissions route. Nursery attendance gives no priority within the oversubscription categories: these cover looked-after and previously looked-after children, exceptional medical or social needs, siblings, then other applicants. Familiarity with the school and entitlement to a place are separate matters.

The school follows a three-term year running from early September into mid or late July. The nursery's full-time day therefore needs to fit the family's school-day arrangements.

School uniform includes a white polo shirt and royal blue sweatshirt or cardigan, with grey or black trousers, skirt or pinafore. Plain tops without a logo are permitted, and pre-loved uniform is available for families experiencing financial hardship.

For nursery enquiries, call the school office on 0161 223 3593 or email stboffice@vantageacademies.co.uk. The school is on Parkhouse Street, Openshaw, Manchester M11 2JX.