Marland Hill Community Primary School Nursery

Stories and conversation give Marland Hill’s early years provision its clearest character. In July 2023, children enjoyed recounting familiar stories and were keen to join in with learning. For a parent choosing a nursery, that points to an emphasis on children using language themselves, alongside listening to adults.

The nursery belongs to Marland Hill Community Primary School on Roch Mills Crescent in Rochdale. It sits within the school’s Foundation Stage staffing structure, which includes teachers and support staff.

Language was a strength of the early years environment at the July 2023 Ofsted inspection. Children retold stories they had heard, giving them opportunities to practise remembering events and expressing ideas. This is a concrete example of what learning can look like before formal reading: hearing a story, then putting it into their own words.

Children in the early years also showed enthusiasm for learning and behaved sensibly around school. These findings describe participation as well as conduct, both relevant to how a young child experiences time with other children and adults.

Curriculum planning. The same inspection identified weaknesses in the sequencing of some subjects across early years and into later learning. Staff needed greater clarity about the knowledge children should acquire in Nursery. For families, the important distinction is between children enjoying activities and those activities forming a carefully planned progression; the inspection supported the former but raised concerns about the latter in some subjects.

For questions about special educational needs and disabilities, parents have a direct contact through the school’s SENCO on 01706 647147. The SEN page also links to the Rochdale Local Offer and speech, language and communication resources for families. These provide a route for discussing a child’s needs and finding related support.

Food arrangements need planning ahead for families using school lunches. Orders are made for a half term, while advance payment can be made daily, weekly or for the half term. That separates the meal-ordering commitment from the payment schedule. Refer to the school for current charges.

Attending this nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Nursery admission and Reception admission are separate processes: families must make a new Reception application through the normal admissions route by the applicable deadline. Treat choosing the nursery and securing the next school place as separate decisions, rather than assuming one settles the other.

Enquiries go through the school office at office@marlandhill.rochdale.sch.uk or by telephone on 01706 647147. There is also an online enquiry form. Families can request paper copies or translated versions of website documents through the office, useful when discussing policies and completing paperwork.

The school site has disabled access for visitors. Its uniform policy requires grey or black trousers or skirts, a white shirt or polo shirt, and a navy jumper or cardigan; jumpers can be plain or carry the school badge. Most items can be bought from supermarkets, giving families flexibility over where they shop.