The Coppice School Nursery Review

Play, communication and individual needs shape the youngest children’s learning at The Coppice School. Acorn is their starting point within this special school in Bamber Bridge, where early education is built around each child rather than a single pace for the class.

The school’s Early Years Foundation Stage covers ages 2 to 5. This is the wider early-years age band, rather than a nursery-only range. The school caters for severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties, including additional complex needs. All pupils attending have an Education Health Care Plan, so educational provision and individual support belong together from the outset.

Acorn follows the Early Years Foundation Stage, with play providing the basis for learning. In parent terms, the approach gives children room to follow their interests while adults support their development. Building friendships and confidence are explicit aims. A rotating sequence of themes combines changing subject matter with familiar routines.

Communication deserves close attention here. At the May 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that communication and the beginnings of reading were priorities from the early years. For families, that places expressing needs and ideas alongside the first steps towards reading.

Across the school, early reading work includes photographs, objects of reference and picture symbols. Attention, listening and engagement come before more formal reading skills for children who are not ready for phonics. Read Write Inc. may be used where appropriate, breaking learning into smaller steps. The school library contains tactile books, picture books and sensory stories, giving early reading a physical as well as a visual dimension.

The wider school grounds include a willow tunnel, an outdoor classroom and a trim trail. These are school facilities, rather than a description of Acorn’s daily timetable. Across the school day, pupils have morning and afternoon pauses for drinks and leisure; lunch timing depends on the class group’s needs.

Parents’ knowledge of their children helps shape Acorn’s approach. The early-years team works with speech and language therapists and physiotherapists, connecting education with communication and physical needs. Where children need therapies to participate in learning, these form part of their day.

A therapy room accommodates work with external professionals, and the school has a designated nurse’s room. These spaces give care a practical place within the school setting. Early-years progress is tracked using the Early Years Developmental Journal; individual learning targets are also followed through the Evidence for Learning app. The emphasis is on each child’s development.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Contact the South Area Education Office to confirm the arrangements for your child’s next placement.

The Coppice is a local-authority-maintained special school, with admissions governed by Lancashire County Council. Placement enquiries go to the South Area Education Office at pupilaccess.southadmissions@lancashire.gov.uk. That is the relevant starting point for discussing the next placement decision. SENDIASS also provides additional, impartial advice.

The school opens to pupils at 8.55am and finishes at 3.00pm. These are whole-school hours. Most pupils depend on school transport, and morning registration closes at 9.20am.

For enquiries about Acorn, contact enquiries@coppice.lancs.sch.uk or call 01772 336342. Visits can be arranged by contacting the school, giving families an opportunity to discuss their child’s needs with the setting.