Brabins Endowed School Nursery Review

Den-making, foil art and homemade wind turbines give Brabins’ early years provision a practical, exploratory character. This is the school’s own pre-school in Chipping, on Longridge Road, with an Early Years Practitioner on the team. For parents, the strongest detail is what children do: investigate materials, join in stories and learn alongside others.

Ofsted rated the school’s early years provision Outstanding at the inspection on 11 and 12 June 2024. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.

Learning combines planned knowledge with exploration. In June 2024, the early years curriculum specified the skills and vocabulary children should acquire, with opportunities to return to earlier learning. In parent language, the Early Years Foundation Stage here brings learning through talk, listening and practical activity together with clear teaching intentions. The making has a purpose.

Songs and storytelling were regular features of early years learning in June 2024, alongside rhymes that gave children repeated contact with language. Children became absorbed in building dens, working with foil and constructing wind turbines. These examples connect creative activity with opportunities to explore how things work, rather than reducing early learning to paper tasks.

Outdoor experiences have also brought pre-school and Reception children together. In September 2021, weekly Forest School sessions included exploring the field, collecting sticks, parachute games and singing. The field is a concrete part of that picture: space for movement, shared games and investigating natural materials. These are dated examples of the nursery’s connection with the wider early years group, rather than a promise of today’s timetable.

During June 2024, children in early years paid close attention to adults and enjoyed taking part with other children. That combination matters for group activities: listening and participation sit alongside the practical exploration.

The school’s support arrangements give parents a route to raise concerns with the class teacher, followed by the special educational needs coordinator (SENCo). Support can involve a teaching assistant working with a child individually or in a group. Individual Support Plans are discussed with families at least termly, giving parents a recurring opportunity to review progress and support.

For children who may find a change difficult, the school can create social stories and encourages visits before starting. School meal choices include soup, wraps and sandwiches, as well as hot dishes and jacket potatoes. Fruit and yogurt are also offered. These are school catering arrangements, rather than a nursery-specific meal package.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place and gives no priority under the school’s oversubscription criteria. Families must make a separate Reception application through Lancashire County Council’s normal primary admissions process by the applicable deadline. Online applications are accepted; families preferring paper applications contact the local authority.

Familiarisation is a separate matter. Children starting Reception are invited to introductory classroom sessions during the preceding summer term. This gives them time to get to know the classroom before starting, but does not confer an admissions advantage.

Visits can be arranged with the school office at a mutually convenient time. Contact 01995 61596 or head@brabins.lancs.sch.uk to arrange a visit. The school is on Longridge Road, Chipping, Preston, PR3 2QD.

Physical access. Classrooms and the hall can be reached via three steps or a path around the building to the rear entrance. Families using mobility equipment should consider that route when visiting.