Allanson Street Primary School Nursery

Play sets the pace at Allanson Street: children choose activities, adults join their investigations, and a shared outdoor learning space extends the early years classroom. This is the school's own nursery in Parr, with 60 places and entry from the term after a child's third birthday. Morning and afternoon sessions sit alongside nursery wraparound provision between 8am and 6pm, giving families a choice between a shorter session and additional care.

The emphasis is on learning through interaction. Children have room to follow an interest, while adults demonstrate, ask questions and introduce the next challenge. That balance shapes the nursery's approach rather than leaving play and teaching as separate parts of the day.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) gives greatest emphasis here to movement, communication and children's emotional and social development. In parent terms, learning to express an idea, manage feelings and cooperate matters alongside early number and literacy work. Creative activities and exploration of the world combine tasks guided by adults with activities children choose themselves.

Resources remain accessible for children to return to activities and practise at their own pace. Staff may invite a child to tackle something together or become involved in an existing game, adding questions and language as the play develops. Nursery assessment uses Development Matters, linking observations of children's progress to its age-related guidance.

Outside, children use an outdoor learning area shared across EYFS. The school aims to let them move freely between outdoor and indoor activities during the day. Outdoor play allows more space for noise, movement and messy exploration, so learning need not stay at a table.

Ofsted's May 2024 inspection described purposeful early years teaching, including children recognising numbers through sandpit play and adults extending their communication. It also found that young children were developing cooperation, sharing and turn-taking. Those are practical foundations for participating in a group.

Emotional support is part of the EYFS plan: children receive help with managing feelings and building relationships. For communication with home, the school uses Class Dojo daily and operates an open-door policy. Parents can raise concerns with the class teacher, with the SEND team and pastoral staff providing further points of contact.

Support for special educational needs and disabilities follows individual needs. The school can involve Speech and Language Therapy or the Educational Psychology Service after consulting parents. Its SEND policy sets out a repeating cycle of assessing needs, planning help, putting it into practice and reviewing the effect. Parents whose children receive SEND support meet the class teacher, supported by the SENDCo, three times a year.

For families using school meals, orders go through School Grid in advance. Office staff or Class Dojo provide help with ordering problems. This is a practical task to build into the family's routine.

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. Here, Reception admissions go through the local authority, while nursery applications are handled by the school.

Educational continuity is a separate benefit: the EYFS curriculum is planned across nursery and Reception, and children use a shared outdoor area. Familiar learning spaces and a connected curriculum can support the next stage, but they do not secure admission.

Apply for nursery using the Nursery Admission Form and return it to the school office in person or by the email route on the admissions page. A school tour can be arranged through the office on 01744 678144. Morning or afternoon attendance is the nursery's session model; the additional 8am to 6pm wraparound provision is relevant for families needing care beyond their session.

The school's 2026/27 calendar has an October break starting after 23 October, with school reopening on 2 November. Keep the school calendar alongside any childcare arrangements when planning the family week.