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Nursery at Medlock Valley 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Stories and spoken language give Medlock Valley’s nursery its clearest character. The nursery class is called Flamingos, and there are 26 morning places within the primary school on Deanshut Road in Oldham. For families choosing an introduction to school, the emphasis on communication is a useful starting point.
Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 13 and 14 February 2024. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.
Story listening has a purpose beyond enjoying a book. In February 2024, nursery children were developing their language and communication through stories. This gives parents a concrete picture of one part of the session: listening to a narrative while building the skills to express themselves.
Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised is the school’s named phonics programme, with teaching beginning in Nursery/Reception. Speaking and listening also receive deliberate attention because the school sees them as foundations for reading and writing. For a nursery child, language development is therefore part of the preparation for later literacy.
Most early years children were still developing their language at an early stage in February 2024. Support helped them extend their vocabulary and spoken English. These findings make communication the clearest evidenced focus of the early years foundation stage here.
Relationships matter alongside learning. In February 2024, early years children valued their connections with staff who supported them, and showed positive attitudes towards learning. For parents, those findings offer reassurance about the adult relationships surrounding a child’s first school experiences.
The school’s team includes an Early Years Lead, an Early Intervention Lead and a Director of Inclusion who also holds the special educational needs coordinator role. An EAL and Language Intervention Lead supports children learning English as an additional language across the school’s three key stages. These are distinct responsibilities, giving families identifiable roles for conversations about development or additional needs.
The Early Intervention and Communication Lead works in school from Wednesday to Friday and with the local authority’s Early Years Better Communication Team on Mondays and Tuesdays. Their work also includes the REAL Project, supporting early literacy with children and families. Parents with SEND concerns can contact the school’s coordinator on 0161 7708197.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process, meeting the applicable deadline. Oldham Local Authority handles Reception admissions, while the school’s governing body handles nursery places. Treat these as separate decisions when planning your child’s next step.
Morning provision has 26 places. Nursery enquiries can be made through the school’s admissions enquiry form, which includes a Nursery year-group option. The school’s main telephone number is 0161 770 8199, and its address is Deanshut Road, Oldham, OL8 2PN.
The nursery class is Flamingos.
There are 26 morning places.
The school uses Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised, with teaching beginning in Nursery/Reception.
No. Families must apply separately for Reception, whose admissions are handled by Oldham Local Authority.
Parents can contact the school’s special educational needs coordinator on 0161 7708197.
