St Paul's Peel CofE Primary School Nursery Review

Sand, construction and daily outdoor learning give this nursery its character. St Paul's Peel has 39 full-time nursery places within the school's Foundation Stage in Little Hulton. Play provides the starting point, with adults demonstrating activities and teaching directly as well as following children's interests.

Ofsted judged the school's early years provision Good at its inspection on 25 and 26 February 2025. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating. Children in early years were engaged in learning and keen to investigate, giving parents a useful picture of how the curriculum translated into children's participation at that point.

Children have choices, but adults shape the learning too. Activities begun by children sit alongside adult demonstrations and direct teaching. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together learning to communicate, developing physical skills and managing relationships, alongside early literacy, number, creativity and understanding the world. Here, those areas are explored through play as well as teaching.

Inside, the classroom has spaces for role play and books, sand and water, making things and building at different scales. Writing and mathematics also have their own areas. These are the nursery's continuous provision: activity spaces that children can use to explore and practise skills. The same approach extends outside, where learning happens daily. Outdoor activity is part of the learning day rather than an occasional addition.

Planning responds to individual children. Staff use photographs, observations and brief individual assessments to decide what each child should work on next. Evidence goes into a Learning Journey that families can share at parent meetings. Parents can contribute Wow Moments from home, connecting achievements outside school with the learning staff see in the classroom.

Language development receives specific attention. The school's SEND information report for 2024 to 2025 describes nursery staff using WELLCOMM to track communication, interaction and language development. This gives staff a way to spot areas needing closer attention rather than relying only on general impressions.

The September 2024 SEND policy sets out a Play Plan for children in EYFS who need planned support. Teachers, the SENDCo and parents agree adjustments and interventions, with a review date; plans are reviewed each term. For families, that makes the support a discussion with identifiable next steps.

Communication has several routes. The 2024 to 2025 SEND information report describes home/school diaries, contact with teachers through Class Dojo, and appointments with the class teacher or SENDCo. Parents can raise concerns directly and discuss ways to help their child at home.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet the applicable deadline. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as two separate decisions; familiarity with the school should not be mistaken for a secured place.

The school opens at 8.45am, with learning beginning at 8.55am. Nursery ends at 3.15pm, and its learning day is described as six hours and 20 minutes. That earlier finish matters when planning collection.

After 9.00am, children must be taken to the school office and signed in, with a reason given for lateness. For nursery enquiries, contact the school office on 0161 790 2327. The school is on Stocksfield Drive, Little Hulton, Salford, M38 9RB.