Brockholes Wood Nursery Review

Story books and children’s interests shape Butterflies, the pre-school class at Brockholes Wood Community Primary School and Nursery. Children aged 3 and 4 belong to the school’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provision, with a qualified teacher and teaching assistants supporting their learning. This is a school nursery with its own class identity.

Based on Brant Road in Preston, Butterflies combines that teacher-led structure with activities planned around what interests the children. For parents, the important distinction is the balance: children’s interests influence provision, while an adult tracks their development and plans what they should learn next.

Books provide starting points for learning rather than sitting apart from it. Continuous provision means learning opportunities that children can return to, with planning shaped by stories and their interests. Within the EYFS, the practical emphasis here includes communication, early reading preparation and hands-on mathematics.

In February 2024, Ofsted found that nursery children’s language development received a strong emphasis through poems, storytelling and rhymes. These give children repeated opportunities to listen and use language. Phonics teaching also starts in nursery, preparing children for Essential Letters & Sounds (ELS). The distinction matters: nursery preparation precedes the formal scheme.

Mathematics uses a concrete, pictorial and abstract approach, supported in the early years by resources including Numicon. This connects practical equipment with pictures and mathematical ideas. Maths Working Walls in classrooms provide a further physical reference for learning.

Vocabulary teaching. In February 2024, the order for teaching important subject vocabulary across the school needed clearer planning. For families, this makes the connection between learning new words and understanding new ideas a useful focus.

A key person gives parents a particular adult to communicate with about their child. That adult learns about the child’s preferences, interests and ways of learning, observes development and assesses progress. Those observations inform the next learning steps, connecting everyday activity with individual planning.

During the February 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that additional needs were recognised promptly, including in the early years, and teaching was adapted with support put in place. For children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), this means support and curriculum adjustments work together.

Reading at home. In February 2024, families needed more guidance to support children’s reading outside school. That concern matters alongside the nursery’s emphasis on language: communication with the key person provides a direct link between family and classroom.

Attending Butterflies does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process by the applicable deadline. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for school entry as two separate decisions.

Enquiries go through the school office on 01772 792302; an online contact form is another route. School visits are encouraged, giving families an opportunity to discuss the provision in person.

The school expects children to wear uniform, but matching colours are sufficient and branded clothing is optional. Trainers are excluded from school footwear. This gives families some flexibility when buying clothes while keeping the school’s dress requirements clear.