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Nursery at Thorp 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.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, conversation and play give Thorp’s nursery its shape. A reading corner is accessible during free-flow time, while spaces for construction, water and role play form part of the Early Years learning environment. This is nursery provision within Thorp Primary School’s Early Years unit in Royton, Oldham. Children can start in the term following their third birthday, with morning or full-time places.
Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good at its inspection on 20 and 21 June 2023. That is an early years judgement within the school inspection. In June 2023, children in early years were settled, and learning behaviour was taught from the start of Nursery.
Play and teaching share the timetable. Across Early Years, adults introduce a topic each half term, with room for children’s interests to influence learning. Directed teaching leads into focused work with small groups; children also have extended opportunities to choose activities independently. The balance gives adults time to work closely with children while allowing them to pursue ideas through play.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) means learning through movement, exploration, conversation and creative thinking. Thorp places emphasis on speaking and listening alongside children’s social and emotional development. Literacy, maths, creative expression and understanding the world build on those foundations. Learning is planned for outdoor and indoor classrooms with equal emphasis, rather than treating outside time simply as a break. Sand, construction and water areas sit alongside spaces for art, early writing and reading, giving children different ways to explore an idea.
Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised provides the framework for early reading. In Nursery, the emphasis is on foundations: poems and stories, action rhymes, attentive listening and oral blending, which means joining spoken sounds together. Children encounter language through both activities they choose and experiences led by adults. Books remain accessible in the reading corner during free-flow time, and its selection changes regularly. This makes reading part of play as well as teaching.
Tapestry connects families with Early Years through photographs, observations of learning and classroom messages. Class Dojo carries school reminders and updates, and families also receive an email newsletter each week. These give parents ways to follow what children are doing and keep track of practical information.
The EYFS lead also holds a deputy safeguarding role. Concerns about special educational needs and disabilities can be directed to the SENDCo through the office or info@thorpschool.uk. Families can also use the Oldham Local Offer and POINT for information and support.
Lunch offers a choice: children may bring food from home or have a school dinner. Packed lunches must exclude nuts, and menus can be requested from the office. Families are asked to give at least two weeks’ notice when switching between packed lunches and school dinners, so meal arrangements need some advance planning.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal Oldham Council admissions route and meet its deadline. Treat that application as a distinct step from choosing the nursery.
Class visits before a September start and the annual Moving Up day in July help children become familiar with their next classroom. This is preparation for a change of class, rather than an admissions advantage.
Morning places run Monday to Friday, 8.45am to 11.45am, described as 15 hours in total. Full-time places run on the same days, 8.45am to 3.05pm, described as 30 hours in total. For families without entitlement to the 30-hour code, the additional 15 hours carry a charge. School dinners are optional and charged separately; contact the school for current charges.
Nursery applications go to info@thorpschool.uk using the nursery form. After an offer, the school needs to see the child’s original birth certificate. Informal visits are encouraged before families decide.
Uniform includes pale blue tops, navy knitwear and grey trousers, shorts or skirts, with black protective shoes. Logo versions are optional for the polo shirt and sweatshirt. Choose a small book bag rather than a large rucksack because cloakroom space is limited; donated uniform can be requested through the office.
Children can start in the term after their third birthday.
Both patterns run Monday to Friday: mornings from 8.45am to 11.45am, or full-time places from 8.45am to 3.05pm.
No. Reception requires a separate application through Oldham Council’s normal admissions route.
Nursery activities include sharing stories and poems, learning rhymes, listening carefully and joining spoken sounds together. Early reading follows Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised.
Yes. A school dinner is optional, and packed lunches must contain no nuts. Give at least two weeks’ notice when changing between the two meal patterns.
