Sandbrook Community Primary School Nursery

Shared outdoor learning and a bilingual staff team give Sandbrook's nursery its character. Children can join from three, with a full-time teacher supported by qualified teaching assistants, including bilingual assistants. The nursery belongs to Sandbrook Community Primary School on Hartley Lane in Rochdale and forms part of its Early Years Foundation Stage alongside Reception.

Care and teaching deserve separate consideration here. Ofsted's March 2026 inspection judged early years as Needs attention, while finding the nursery's provision appropriate for three-year-olds. Children settled happily, but teaching across early years lacked consistency. That distinction matters when weighing a child's immediate comfort against their learning needs.

Adult-guided activities are balanced with independent exploration, both outdoors and inside. The Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum combines language, movement and social development with early reading, maths, creative expression and understanding the world. In parent terms, learning includes communicating ideas, developing physical skills and getting along with others, alongside the beginnings of academic learning.

Conversation, imaginative role play and storytelling feature in language work. Sandbrook aims to recognise children's home languages as part of this. Creative activities include dancing, singing and making music, with opportunities to explore textures and colour. The outdoor area is shared with Reception, giving nursery children a learning space connected to the next stage.

Reading was a positive feature in March 2026: early-years phonics teaching was accurate and effective. However, the curriculum did not focus sufficiently on the knowledge children needed to retain, and some made less progress than they should. Adult language modelling was uneven across classes and outdoors, restricting vocabulary development. Early writing difficulties also went unaddressed too often, including incorrect pencil grip. These are practical concerns for families whose children need additional help with communication or early mark-making. Across early years overall, the March 2026 inspection also found that the proportion reaching a good level of development was below the national norm, and children were insufficiently prepared for Year 1.

In March 2026, families were involved through visits at home, phased starts and sessions using story sacks. In March 2026, established routines helped children settle, staff supported their emotions, and relationships with adults and other children were positive. Needs were generally recognised early, with parents involved in discussions.

Tapestry connects learning at nursery and at home: parents can see their child's activities and contribute examples from family life. Meetings with staff can also be arranged to discuss learning and next steps, giving families a direct route into those conversations.

For children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), the school has a non-teaching SEND coordinator whom parents can access during school hours. Tiny Turtles and The Pod are adapted spaces that learners following EYFS may use according to their needs. Individual health and intimate care plans can be developed with parents and relevant professionals where required. Families should weigh these arrangements alongside the March 2026 finding that inconsistent language support affected children with SEND who needed it most.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Rochdale's local authority admissions department. For September 2026 entry, the application closing date was 15 January 2026; that cycle is now past.

Familiarity is a separate benefit from admission. Sharing outdoor space creates links between nursery and Reception, while a meeting during children's final nursery term allows parents of the Reception intake to meet the class teacher and discuss the next stage. Longer transition periods can be arranged where needed, and transition booklets support children with SEND over the summer.

Morning sessions run from 8:45am to 11:45am, afternoon sessions from 12:15pm to 3:15pm, and full days from 8:45am to 3:15pm. Parents indicate a preference for mornings, afternoons or a full-time place if eligible. The different patterns make session choice a concrete part of planning childcare.

Contact the school office on 01706 647743 or email office@sandbrookprimary.com for nursery enquiries. Visits can be arranged by appointment through the office, allowing parents to meet staff and discuss their child's start.