Tarleton Mere Brow Church of England Primary School Nursery

Hedgehogs brings nursery children into a class shared with Reception and Year 1. That mixed-age arrangement gives this nursery its character: the youngest children belong to a teaching group within Tarleton Mere Brow Church of England Primary School, with time allocated to each age group and support from teaching assistants.

The school admits children from age three and has a Church of England character. In June 2024, Ofsted graded its early years provision Good. That judgement covers the school's early years provision rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Outdoor learning has a regular place here. Forest School takes place weekly, using a large field, and classes participate throughout the year. Children move about and practise orienteering, giving outdoor activity a purpose beyond a break from the classroom. The early years children have also received the Step Outside Award.

Within Hedgehogs, children can use outdoor space and continuous provision: learning opportunities they can return to alongside time with their teachers. Each age group receives dedicated teaching time. For a family considering a mixed class, that distinction matters: sharing a class does not mean every child follows the same teaching all day.

The Early Years Foundation Stage is the nursery's learning framework. Children have learning opportunities they can revisit and dedicated teaching time with their age group. Early reading includes phonics, which means learning how letters represent sounds. In June 2024, many early years learning areas had their essential knowledge identified, and most early years children developed secure phonics knowledge. There was also a specific weakness: some learning areas needed clearer decisions about what children should learn and its sequence. This occasionally limited children's ability to connect earlier learning with new knowledge. Curriculum detail therefore deserves attention alongside the outdoor provision.

Hedgehogs has teachers and teaching assistants, while the wider school also has a teacher responsible for social, emotional and mental health wellbeing. Older pupils act as hedgehog helpers for early years children, adding another connection between the youngest children and the school around them.

Accessibility includes a ramp, wheelchair access throughout the building and accessible toilet and changing facilities. Pictures, symbols and signs support access to resources. For children receiving SEN support, individual education plans are provided termly and parents are invited to discuss provision and next steps. These arrangements give families a way to contribute to support planning.

Staff can have brief conversations with parents at the beginning or end of the day; home-school books provide another way to exchange messages. Longer discussions require an appointment. Medical care plans are developed with families and shared with relevant staff. School meals are prepared on site, and children may bring packed lunches, with families asked to avoid chocolate and fizzy drinks.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process by the applicable deadline.

Sharing Hedgehogs with Reception provides familiarity with that class setting. Treat this everyday continuity separately from the application: classroom membership does not secure admission.

Full-day nursery places are offered. Enquiries go through the school office on 01772 812689 or by email to bursar@merebrow.lancs.sch.uk. Visits can be arranged by telephone, giving parents an opportunity to consider the mixed class and outdoor space before choosing a place.