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Nursery at St Gabriel's Church of England 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Play, outdoor learning and daily stories shape the nursery at St Gabriel's in Middleton. Its place within the school's Foundation Stage Unit gives children a setting shared with Reception, while keeping a teacher for each class. Three teaching assistants work across the unit. For families, that means nursery belongs to the school's early years provision from the outset.
The classroom's learning areas extend outdoors, so exploring and practising skills need not stay at a table. This is a Church of England school; its values include friendship, courage and forgiveness.
Children's choices sit alongside activities planned by adults. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together learning about relationships, movement and communication with early reading, mathematics, creativity and understanding the world. Staff use Birth to Five and Development Matters to plan experiences and assess learning. In parent language, play has a purpose: children explore their interests while adults help them develop knowledge and skills.
Indoor learning areas and outdoor provision remain accessible for children to use with adult support. An interactive whiteboard and iPads also feature in daily learning. Nursery PE takes place on Monday mornings, adding a scheduled physical activity to the play-based approach.
Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised provides the nursery's Foundations for Phonics guidance. Daily sessions combine stories and rhymes with language development and oral blending, which means joining spoken sounds together. The emphasis is on listening and talking as foundations for reading.
Summer-term reading sessions bring approximately five children together once a week. They discuss pictures in a wordless book and practise putting its pages in sequence. This gives children a way to explore books through conversation before reading printed words independently.
Each child's Learning Journey collects work, photographs and staff observations. Parents can see it at consultation evenings and at other points during the year, making progress something they can discuss through concrete examples. A newsletter each half term explains the topic and learning intentions; school consultation evenings take place once a term and use Arbor for booking.
Nursery children receive milk free of charge. For children using the school clubs, breakfast is provided in the morning and healthy snacks feature after school. Those routines matter when childcare extends beyond the nursery session.
SEND concerns can be raised through the school's SEND lead, contacted through the office. A monthly SEND newsletter explains support and signposts families to further help, including Rochdale's local offer. Parents with a concern are encouraged to speak first to their child's class teacher or the headteacher.
Attending nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process by the applicable deadline. The school's admissions page directs applicants to Rochdale's school admissions service.
Sharing the Foundation Stage Unit gives nursery and Reception an organisational connection. Treat that separately from admission: being part of the unit does not secure the next place.
Monday-to-Friday patterns cover mornings from 8:50am to 11:50am, afternoons from 12:15pm to 3:15pm, or the full day from 8:50am to 3:15pm. The admissions page associates the shorter patterns with 15 hours and the full-day pattern with the 30-hour childcare entitlement. A morning option extending through lunchtime runs until 1:00pm.
Breakfast Club runs from 7:45am to 8:50am; After School Club closes at 5:30pm. Book clubs through Arbor; bookings less than 24 hours ahead must go through school and carry an additional charge. Sessions cancelled within 24 hours are non-refundable. Ask the school for current club charges. Contact the office for a nursery application form on 0161 6539587 or office@stgabrielsce.rochdale.sch.uk.
Keep wellies, black slip-on pumps and a bag of spare clothes at school, with clothing labelled. For collection, tell staff who will collect your child and arrive punctually. Keep emergency contact details up to date.
No. Reception requires a separate application through the normal admissions process. The school's admissions page links to Rochdale's admissions service.
Morning sessions run from 8:50am to 11:50am, afternoons from 12:15pm to 3:15pm, and full days from 8:50am to 3:15pm. The Foundation Stage page also gives a morning option with lunchtime care until 1:00pm.
Nursery uses Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised Foundations for Phonics, with daily oral blending, language work, stories and rhymes. In the summer term, children share wordless books in small groups once a week.
Learning Journey folders contain photographs, work and observations. Parents can access them at consultation evenings and at other times during the year.
Wellies, black slip-on pumps and spare clothes in a bag are requested for nursery children. Label clothing with your child's name.
