The FMS Inspection Score is FindMySchool's proprietary analysis based on official Ofsted and ISI inspection reports. It converts ratings into a standardised 1–10 scale for fair comparison across all schools in England.
Disclaimer: The FMS Inspection Score is an independent analysis by FindMySchool. It is not endorsed by or affiliated with Ofsted or ISI. Always refer to the official Ofsted or ISI report for the full picture of a school’s inspection outcome.
Nursery at Fir Bank Primary School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Mud-kitchen play, helicopter stories and a class called Rainbow give Fir Bank’s nursery its character. This is the school’s own nursery in Royton, with children able to start in the term following their third birthday. Families can choose weekday mornings or full days, so the same class offers two different lengths of nursery week.
Play is the starting point. Rainbow Class sits within the school’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), where adult-led activities sit alongside uninterrupted play chosen by children. The practical emphasis is on talking, exploring and learning to take part in a group.
Stories and conversation run through the early-years curriculum. Songs, rhymes, drawing club and helicopter stories create opportunities to use language with adults and other children. Little Wandle Foundations for Phonics begins in nursery through stories, rhyme and song; letters are introduced during the summer term. This gives early reading a starting point in listening and communication.
The EYFS combines physical, language, thinking and emotional development. Here, mathematical learning includes exploration as well as direct teaching, while adults help children cooperate, express feelings and ask questions during play. Themes and shorter mini themes bring together books, visitors and trips. Planning can change in response to children’s interests, giving those interests a role in what happens next.
Outside, a sandpit and mud kitchen provide sensory play, with outdoor activity sessions adding movement. Children use the natural environment whatever the weather. Rainbow Class asks for coats and wellies, making outdoor play part of ordinary nursery life rather than an occasional extra. PE takes place on Mondays and Tuesdays.
In May 2023, Ofsted found that the early-years curriculum supported children’s development well and that nursery children learned school routines successfully from the outset. These are early-years findings within a school inspection, rather than a separate nursery grade.
Purple Mash gives families regular updates and weekly photographs from Rainbow Class. Each half term, early-years teachers also send a knowledge organiser explaining the learning and ways to support it at home. That gives parents both a view of daily activity and a starting point for shared learning.
Lunch is scheduled for 11.30am, and the school prepares lunches in its own kitchen. Fir Bank is free of nuts and sesame. Children also bring a water bottle each day, so drinking and preparing for outdoor play are part of the practical routine.
For children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the school’s approach includes individual education plans with targets reviewed alongside parents and support services. Support can involve individual work, small groups or adapted classroom activities. A SENCo and deputy SENCo provide a school-level support structure, giving families a route for discussing additional needs.
Attending Fir Bank’s nursery does not guarantee a place in its Reception class. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route; Oldham Council handles the Reception admissions enquiry route. Nursery attendance should therefore be treated separately from the application for a school place.
Familiarisation is a different matter. Children have an opportunity to visit their next class before a September start, and the annual Moving Up morning takes place in July. Spending time in the next classroom helps make the change more concrete for a young child. It does not secure admission.
Full-time nursery runs Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 3.00pm, totalling 30 hours. The part-time pattern is five mornings, from 9.00am to 12.00pm, totalling 15 hours. Nursery opens at 8.50am, before the teaching day begins.
Uniform includes a yellow polo shirt, green jumper or sweatshirt, grey bottoms and black shoes. Label clothing and belongings, and bring a PE kit on the class’s PE days. These are useful preparations for the nursery week.
For nursery enquiries, contact the school office on 0161 624 9577 or email info@firbank.oldham.sch.uk. Visits can be arranged by appointment, giving families an opportunity to see the school before choosing.
Children can start in the term after their third birthday. September is the main intake, with January and April starts depending on ratios.
Both patterns run Monday to Friday: full-time places are 9.00am to 3.00pm, totalling 30 hours, and morning places are 9.00am to 12.00pm, totalling 15 hours.
Bring a daily water bottle, wellies and a coat. PE days are Mondays and Tuesdays, when a PE kit is needed. Label uniform and belongings.
Rainbow Class uses Purple Mash for regular updates and weekly photographs. Early-years teachers also provide a knowledge organiser each half term with ideas for supporting learning at home.
No. Reception requires a separate application through the normal admissions process. Contact Oldham Council Admissions through www.oldham.gov.uk/admissions or on 0161 770 4213.
