The Russett School Nursery

Communication and engagement shaped the early years provision described at The Russett School’s inspection on 13 and 14 December 2023. Children followed learning pathways matched to their development, with some concentrating on connecting with other people and others building practical foundations for greater independence. The starting point was the child’s learning stage.

This nursery belongs to a special school in Weaverham. In December 2023, the school served pupils with severe learning difficulties, complex learning needs and autism; every pupil had an education, health and care plan. That is the context for its early years provision. At the inspection on 13 and 14 December 2023, there were no two-year-olds on the school roll.

At the December 2023 inspection, learning took different forms according to the pathway a child followed. For some early years children, communication and participation with others were the central focus. Activities preparing children for reading had a planned structure, and listening included sounds from the surrounding environment. These activities formed part of the pathway’s focus on communication and engagement.

The December 2023 inspection found that this pathway broke learning into carefully specified knowledge and skills. Teachers tracked small increments of progress and timed the introduction of further learning to suit pupils’ readiness. For a parent, the meaningful measure is therefore the next step their child can take, rather than an expectation that everyone reaches the same point together.

Other pathways described in December 2023 combined number work and reading with communication and learning about health, relationships and personal development. These foundations extended from early years onwards, helping children acquire useful knowledge and develop independence. The distinction matters: the inspection described early learning focused on engagement itself or on a broader set of foundational skills, according to the child’s development.

In December 2023, support was connected to the learning pathway. Assessment considered both a pupil’s SEND and their developmental stage, so the curriculum started from their individual needs. Therapeutic expertise complemented those pathways across the school, including early years, addressing difficulties that could obstruct learning.

For families, these findings connected educational planning with specialist support. A child’s progress was considered through the steps appropriate to their pathway, with communication, engagement and practical independence providing concrete areas of focus. The early years provision described at that inspection sat within this personalised structure.

Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Nursery admission and Reception admission are separate processes: families need to apply again for Reception through the appropriate admission route. Learning continuity and an entitlement to a place are separate questions.

The Russett School is on Middlehurst Avenue, Weaverham, Northwich, CW8 3BW. The school’s telephone number is 01606853005. This is school-attached nursery provision, within The Russett School.