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Nursery at Roundthorn Primary Academy
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Language, outdoor exploration and learning with parents give Roundthorn’s nursery its character. Qualified teachers lead the provision, while an outdoor learning area usable in all weathers gives children room to investigate beyond the classroom. This is the school’s own nursery on Roundthorn Road in Oldham, with up to 52 places divided between morning and afternoon groups of up to 26.
Children joining in September must have turned three by 31 August. Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good following its inspection on 6 and 12 December 2023. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.
Communication runs through the day. Children talk individually with adults, contribute in groups, retell stories and experiment with making marks. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together learning to communicate, manage feelings and move confidently with early literacy, number, creativity and exploration of the world. For parents, that means learning through conversation and practical activity as well as adult guidance.
The 2022-23 EYFS programme included daily stories chosen by children voting with counters, alongside Dough Disco and Squiggle activities for early mark making. These connected children's choices and movement with early learning. In December 2023, nursery children were learning to recognise sounds and rhyme, building foundations for reading; vocabulary development was a clear early years focus.
Outside, children can climb, investigate and use role play, as well as draw and make marks. A sensory room provides another physical space to support learning. Roundthorn describes itself as a Therapeutic School and a Communication Friendly Setting, alongside this emphasis on speaking and listening.
The REAL project extends literacy learning into the home for selected children and their parents. Termly REAL events invite all nursery families to participate at school. Weekly home activities draw on children’s experiences, and a lending library lets families share books together. Parents have specific ways to join in.
Settling begins before the first regular session. Children are expected to attend an introductory open session, and staff normally make a home visit to plan their start. This gives families and staff an opportunity to prepare together, although the visit itself does not secure a nursery place.
For children needing additional support, the SEND coordinator helps teachers develop individual plans, choose resources and review progress. Families contribute to planning, and specialist advice can be sought where appropriate. Children with complex medical or personal care needs have individual care plans developed with parents and professionals, so support can address their everyday needs.
If a child stays for lunch, families can supply a packed lunch or buy a school meal. Parents may also take their child home during the lunch break. These choices matter when deciding whether a longer nursery day suits the family.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application: Oldham residents use the council’s school admissions application process, while families living elsewhere apply through their home local authority. For September 2027 entry, the deadline is 15 January 2027, or the next working day.
Attendance does confer oversubscription priority for that intake. Children attending Roundthorn’s nursery at the time they apply fall within the third criterion, after looked-after and previously looked-after children, and children with a sibling at the school. This is a priority category, not an assured place. Keep the Reception application deadline separate from nursery arrangements.
Morning sessions run from 8:30 to 11:30; afternoons run from 12:15 to 15:15. The standard 15-hour weekly entitlement usually covers five three-hour sessions, with an alternative arrangement across two and a half days. Eligible working parents of three- and four-year-olds may be offered 30 hours, subject to approval. Families wanting additional sessions can discuss them with the nursery teacher.
Lunchtime charges. Families accepting a full-day place under the 30-hour entitlement pay separately for the additional lunchtime hour. Nursery children can also attend a charged breakfast club. Ask the school for current charges before choosing the longer day.
For enquiries or a possible nursery visit, call 0161 770 8600. Visits can be arranged subject to the school’s ability to accommodate them. Nursery applications go through the school office, with the child’s birth certificate.
For September entry, children must be three on or before 31 August. A January start is sometimes possible for children who turn three before 1 January, at the early years team’s discretion and subject to an assessment of nursery readiness based on an autumn-term home visit.
Morning sessions are 8:30 to 11:30, and afternoon sessions are 12:15 to 15:15. The 15-hour entitlement can also be arranged across two and a half days.
Yes. Children staying at lunchtime can bring a packed lunch or have a purchased school meal. Families accepting a full-day place under the 30-hour entitlement pay separately for the additional lunchtime hour.
For September 2027 entry, attendance at the time of application is the third oversubscription criterion. It does not guarantee admission, and a separate Reception application is required.
All nursery parents are invited to termly REAL events. Children also receive weekly home learning activities and can borrow a library book to share with their family. The targeted REAL home programme is for selected children.
