Yesoiday Hatorah Boys Academy Nursery Review

Torah values give this nursery its context: it belongs to Yesoiday Hatorah Boys Academy, a Jewish boys’ primary school on Sedgley Park Road in Prestwich. The school’s age range begins at three. Its stated emphasis on respect, empathy and good character gives families a clear sense of the values surrounding their child’s education.

Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 10 and 11 May 2023. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Exploration is a feature of the early years experience. In May 2023, children showed curiosity and made purposeful use of the different learning areas. This gives a concrete picture of children engaging with their surroundings and investigating activities, rather than simply receiving instructions.

The early years curriculum identifies knowledge for children to retain, with reading designed to develop both fluency and enthusiasm. For parents, the emphasis is on what children learn and remember as they explore. Language Link, a speech and language programme used with all nursery children, adds a named element to that learning.

Curriculum delivery needs attention. In May 2023, some early years activities were insufficiently aligned with the intended learning, leaving some children remembering less than they should. The required improvement was to choose activities and teaching methods that better support recall. This is a useful distinction between an ambitious plan and how consistently it reaches children.

Language support has a specific place here. Alongside Language Link, the school has an in-house speech and language therapist; support can involve individual work or small groups according to children’s needs and the aims of the intervention. That gives families a concrete starting point for discussing communication difficulties.

For additional needs, the school’s process begins with the class teacher talking with parents and adjusting learning targets, resources or the environment. The SENCO then contributes observations and works with the family and teaching team. Intervention plans are shared with parents, with assessments at the beginning and end helping to track what changes.

A school Sensory Room is accessible to children identified as needing that intervention. Classroom sensory boxes and visual activity cards also provide opportunities for sensory breaks and self-regulation. These are targeted supports: access depends on the child’s identified needs.

Nursery attendance brings no admission priority. For September 2025 entry, attendance conferred neither a guaranteed Reception place nor priority. Families must make a separate Reception application; choosing the nursery should therefore be a decision about the nursery experience itself.

The academy’s governing body is its admissions authority. For that past entry cycle, applicants seeking faith priority had to return the application and supplementary form to the academy by 15 January 2025. Keep the Reception application separate from nursery enrolment and follow the route and deadline for the relevant entry year.

The school is on Sedgley Park Road, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 0JW. General enquiries can be made on 0161 773 6364 or by emailing info@yhba.org.uk. These provide a direct route to the school for nursery enquiries.