Nursery at Preesall Fleetwood's Charity Church of England Primary School

Play outdoors, stories to take home and a woodland on site give this nursery its character. Beech Class is the nursery provision within Preesall Fleetwood's Charity Church of England Primary School, with space for up to 24 children. Children can join from the term following their second birthday and stay until they begin Reception.

The wider school has a Church of England identity and occupies Preesall Hill. For younger children, the physical detail that matters is its early years outdoor play space, alongside mature woodland used for Forest School. Outdoor learning has room to extend beyond the classroom.

Children learn through play within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). In everyday terms, that means developing conversation, movement and relationships alongside early reading, maths, creativity and exploration of the world. Development Matters guides the approach. Themes provide connections across learning, while children's interests influence activities and changes to the classroom.

The early years outdoor area remains accessible throughout the day, giving children opportunities to explore outside as well as indoors. Practical resources support early maths through White Rose. These are tangible ways to investigate ideas rather than relying only on spoken explanations.

A visit from Lanes Vets in February 2026 brought learning into pretend play: Beech children joined activities involving animal noises, x-rays, bandages and dressing as vets. It gave them concrete objects and experiences to talk about.

Reading also travels home. In October 2023, Ofsted found that nursery children enjoyed story packs containing reading activities, a postcard and a teddy. Children were developing recognition of letters and sounds, providing preparation for later phonics teaching. For parents, the packs offer a specific activity to share with their child.

The nursery team includes a teaching assistant and a support assistant. Families receive half-termly updates on nursery learning, helping them connect conversations at home with classroom activities.

For children needing additional support, the school works with parents to understand individual needs. Families can raise concerns with the class teacher, SENCO or headteacher. Support needs deserve discussion. In October 2023, school-wide concerns included inconsistent adaptation of teaching for some pupils with SEND and ineffective help for some struggling readers. These findings were not identified specifically as nursery weaknesses, but they give families useful questions about how support will work for their child.

Food is included in wraparound care: breakfast club provides breakfast, while after-school care includes a meal and drink. Collection from the latter requires a named adult to sign the child out, giving families a clear handover procedure.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through Lancashire County Council. For the application cycle running from 1 September 2026, the deadline is 15 January 2027. Treat that application as a separate task from arranging nursery care.

Contact the school office on 01253 810324 to discuss nursery childcare requirements and arrange a visit. Visits can also be arranged by emailing bursar@fleetwoods.lancs.sch.uk.

Nursery pupils can use breakfast and after-school clubs. Breakfast bookings use ParentPay, with starts at 7:30am or 8am and transfer to classes at 8:50am. After-school care, called Woodland Den, begins at 3:30pm. It runs until 5:30pm on Mondays and Fridays, and 6pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; later care until 6pm can be arranged in advance. This gives families options around the nursery day. Contact the school for current charges.