St Thomas Moorside CofE (VA) Primary School Nursery Review

A purpose-built Early Years unit gives this nursery its own indoor and outdoor learning spaces within St Thomas Moorside in Sholver, Oldham. Play, conversation and growing independence shape the provision. It belongs to a Church of England school, with stories about relationships and differences woven into nursery learning.

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

Children combine activities they choose themselves with teaching led by adults, including class teaching and smaller groups. Topics change each half term, while children’s interests also influence learning. This gives the day both a planned direction and room for a child’s own curiosity.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together seven learning areas: language, relationships and emotions, movement, early reading and writing, mathematics, creative expression, and understanding the world. Here, communication and personal development receive the main emphasis. Learning to express a need, listen and work alongside someone else helps children take part in other activities.

Numicon Firm Foundations supplies the planning for nursery mathematics. Technology experiences across early years include taking photographs, controlling a Beebot and looking up information with an adult. These introduce children to using devices for a purpose, with adult involvement in internet searches. Oldham Music service teaches each class, including early years, for 30 minutes weekly, giving music a regular place alongside play.

Inside and outside the classroom, children have opportunities to explore. Religious learning takes place through stories rather than separate nursery RE lessons: children discuss people, communities and differences, connecting the school’s Christian character with how they treat others.

The staffing structure includes a nursery teacher and an Early Years lead. In June 2024, children in early years were attentive to adults and followed directions. Additional needs were also recognised promptly from early years onwards, helping support begin early.

Parents can raise concerns first with the class teacher. The federation’s SEND process brings families, the teacher and the special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) into planning a child’s support. Where specialist advice is needed, referrals can include Speech and Language, Occupational Therapy or Educational Psychology, with parental consent. This gives families a role in decisions about additional help.

Lunch can be a school meal or food brought from home. Nursery children may qualify for benefit-linked free meals where their parents meet the eligibility conditions; applications go through Oldham Council. Other lunches are charged and paid for beforehand. Ask the school for current meal charges.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the local authority’s online process by its normal deadline. The school also requires supplementary forms where families want church attendance, special circumstances or siblings living apart considered; these share the local authority application deadline.

Children already have contact across the nursery and Reception age groups: in June 2024, they learnt together cooperatively, with older children modelling behaviour for nursery children. That is an everyday connection, not an admissions entitlement.

Staff expertise. In June 2024, some early years staff needed further guidance on extending children’s existing learning between Nursery and Reception. Development was uneven, leaving some children less prepared for their next stage. For families, the important issue is how teaching builds on what their own child can already do.

Enquiries go through the school office on 0161 624 9290, its online contact form or info@st-thomas-moorside.oldham.sch.uk. Families considering a place can arrange a visit.

Registering interest in nursery is possible at any time. Application forms are issued in January for the following September intake, so interest and a completed application are distinct steps.