Bare Trees Primary School Nursery Review

Stories, rhymes and learning to play together give Bare Trees nursery its character. This is the school's own provision in Chadderton, for children aged 3 to 4 in the academic year after their third birthday. Families can choose part-time attendance or a limited number of full-time places.

Ofsted graded the school's early years provision Good at the inspection on 25 and 26 June 2024. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.

Early learning brings together reading, writing and mathematical skills. Stories and rhymes have a clear role: in June 2024, children in early years were developing their enjoyment of books through both. For parents, this gives the nursery day a recognisable focus on language alongside the first steps in writing and number work.

The nursery's 2025–2026 themes included Rhyme Time, Marvellous Me and People Who Help Us, moving between familiar experiences and imaginative material. Its 2024–2025 activities included planting and growing, a library visit and a Forest School experience. Those examples connect learning with books and the world outdoors, rather than keeping everything within classroom tasks.

Cooperative play matters too. In June 2024, early years children were learning to follow directions, share turns and play together. These are practical foundations for joining group activities and managing a session with other children.

Settling starts with some flexibility: September is the nursery's single intake, and children may have staggered starting dates. In June 2024, early years children adjusted promptly to school life.

For a child with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), preparation can begin before their first session. A teacher, the SEND coordinator or both visit the child's home or previous setting and join meetings before the child starts. Early years contacts include the Health Visiting Team, alongside the AEN (Additional Educational Needs) Team.

Parents are involved in decisions about SEND support and invited to termly meetings to review targets and provision. Initial concerns go to the class teacher. This gives families a clear starting point and a regular opportunity to discuss how support is working.

Nursery attendance neither guarantees a Reception place nor gives priority in allocation. Families must make a separate online application through Oldham Council, meeting the deadline for their child's entry year.

For the September 2026 Reception intake, the deadline was 5.00pm on 15 January 2026. That cycle is past. Allocation uses the admission criteria, including care history, exceptional medical or social reasons supported by evidence, siblings who will still attend when the child starts Reception, and geographical proximity. Choosing the nursery therefore needs to stand on the nursery experience itself.

For children with SEND, summer transition meetings review progress and support before a move to the next class. This preparation is separate from the decision about a Reception place.

For 2026–2027, the session choices are Monday to Friday during term time: mornings from 8.30am to 11.30am, afternoons from 12.10pm to 3.10pm, or full-time attendance from 8.30am to 3.10pm. The part-time options are labelled 15 hours and the full-time option 30 hours. A preferred session is requested when applying, but that preference is not guaranteed.

Full-time places require either a 30-hour funding code or a paid top-up from 15-hour funding. Ask the school for current charges. Families accepting a nursery place are expected to retain it for the academic year; poor attendance can put the place at risk because of funding implications.

Nursery applications go directly to the main office, with original proof of birth. For enquiries, email info@baretreesprimary.com or telephone 0161 503 4260. School visits can be arranged through the office.