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Nursery at Shawclough Community Primary School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Bird feeders, brushes and early phonics give Shawclough’s nursery a practical introduction to learning. Children make things, experiment with materials and begin connecting sounds with letters. This is the nursery within Shawclough Community Primary School on Thrum Hall Lane in Rochdale, with provision for two-year-olds as well as three- and four-year-olds.
An assistant headteacher has responsibility for EYFS and phonics, linking early learning and the first steps towards reading within the leadership team. For parents, the distinctive combination is practical exploration alongside a named literacy programme, Read Write Inc.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) takes concrete form here through making, talking and developing the movements needed for writing. Making bird feeders and handling tools sit alongside drawing marks with pencils, brushes and pens. These activities give children ways to practise physical control before writing becomes more formal.
Choice also features in the nursery’s art planning. Children select materials for their ideas, try joining them and experiment with mixing colours. Talking about what they have made connects creative work with communication. The early years outdoor learning area supports practical making and investigation, extending this activity beyond indoor work.
Read Write Inc begins in Nursery. Short phonics activities introduce letter sounds and how to combine them into words. In January 2023, Ofsted identified an early-reading weakness: a few staff modelled sounds inaccurately, making accurate reading harder for pupils. That concern matters alongside the programme itself: children need clear sound models as well as opportunities to practise.
Ofsted’s January 2023 findings described children becoming comfortable in Nursery promptly, with adults helping their language develop and providing skilled support for the small group of two-year-olds. For a child starting nursery, settling and communication are closely connected parts of the experience.
Home visits give nursery staff information from parents about children’s needs. The Nursery Progression Document supports early identification of difficulties. Where additional support is needed, the school’s SEND process includes observations, assessment and a Provision Map discussed with families and reconsidered each term. Speech and Language Therapy and Rochdale Additional Needs Service are among the agencies the school works with, giving families a route to specialist advice through the school team.
Sessions can include lunch or exclude it. The school kitchen prepares cooked meals each day, using a rotating menu over four weeks; families can request allergen information. Choosing a lunch-inclusive session therefore involves both the session arrangement and the child’s dietary needs.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Parents must make a separate Reception application through the normal local authority process and meet its deadline. Rochdale Council handles school admissions, while nursery applications go directly to the school. Keep those two applications distinct when planning your child’s next step.
Morning and afternoon sessions are offered with or without lunch, and additional hours can be charged beyond funded entitlement. Three- and four-year-olds have a universal allocation of 15 hours; a further 15 hours requires a working-parent funding code. For two-year-olds, the admissions information lists 15-hour routes through Gold Ticket entitlement or a working-parent code. These conditions matter when deciding which session arrangement fits your family.
School meals may carry a charge, and a voluntary contribution is also listed. Contact the school for current charges. Nursery enquiries and applications go through the school office on 01706 647991 or office@shawclough.rochdale.sch.uk; prospective families are encouraged to visit.
For nursery drop-off, parents must follow the route around the building to the nursery’s external door, where staff open it. This gives nursery families a specific entrance to use.
The provision includes two-year-olds, and the nursery admissions information also covers three- and four-year-olds.
Yes. Morning and afternoon sessions have options that include or exclude lunch. Allergen information can be requested from the school.
The school lists 15 universal hours for three- and four-year-olds, plus 15 extended hours with a working-parent funding code. Two-year-old routes list 15 hours through Gold Ticket entitlement or a working-parent code.
No. Reception requires a separate application through Rochdale Council’s normal admissions process, by the applicable deadline.
Contact the school directly. The office can be reached on 01706 647991 or office@shawclough.rochdale.sch.uk.
