Victoria Park Infant School Nursery Review

Songs, sound games and practical play shaped Victoria Park’s nursery activities in autumn 2021. Early reading starts in the Nursery class, with rhymes and songs introducing children to language from their first days. This is the school’s own nursery provision in Stretford, giving children an introduction to school routines alongside their learning.

Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good at its December 2022 inspection. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

The autumn 2021 activities show how the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum worked through play. Staff recorded children’s learning across its seven areas using photographs and observations. In practical terms, learning included talking about picture books, counting objects, making pictures and playing together, rather than relying on one type of activity.

Floppy’s Phonics featured in September 2021. Its introductory lilac books contained pictures rather than written words, encouraging children to talk about what they could see. At The Concert prompted instrument playing, nursery rhymes and pretend performances. Children also explored rhythm and sounds made with their voices and bodies. These activities gave them opportunities to listen closely and use language before tackling written text.

By October 2021, a fruit and vegetable shop provided a setting for counting and sorting produce. Children used a till and made shopping lists through early attempts at writing. Sandwich making connected another everyday activity to learning: children spread jam, counted bread slices and discussed halves and quarters. Harvest conversations linked bread to wheat and jam to fruit. Number work had a practical purpose.

An art and craft area allowed children to choose painting or collage, while adults also encouraged those who tended to avoid creative activities to take part. Autumn finds supplied materials for temporary artwork, and a nature table held seasonal objects. A PE activity in the hall involved moving like animals, combining physical movement with following instructions.

In December 2022, phonics began from the Nursery class and staff had training to teach it effectively. Curriculum consistency. Some subjects still needed clearer teaching sequences and better guidance for staff, leaving some children’s learning uneven. Families should weigh that weakness alongside the early reading provision.

Settling was the focus of the opening topic in September 2021: making friends, becoming familiar with adults and learning nursery routines. Photographs of children playing were shared to reassure parents. Each child also had an individual learning story, recording observations and images of their activities. This made the small steps in learning visible.

Full-day children were getting accustomed to a lunchtime routine that September. Making sandwiches later in the term was a learning activity, rather than evidence of a regular meal menu.

By December 2022, early years children adapted quickly to routines and listened attentively to adults. Safeguarding staff responded promptly to worries about children’s welfare, passed concerns to the responsible leaders and followed them through so families could receive support.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply separately through the normal Reception admissions process by its normal deadline. The school’s Admissions page links to Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council’s school admissions page. Treat choosing nursery and applying for Reception as separate decisions.

The Admissions page provides a Nursery Application Form alongside the School & Nursery Admission Policy. Use the nursery form for the nursery application, keeping the council’s school admissions route separate for Reception.