St Anne's Church of England Primary School Nursery

A shared early years building gives this nursery its character: children belong to school life from the start, with a contained outdoor learning area and opportunities to play alongside other children in the early years unit. St Anne's nursery sits within the school's Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provision in Waterfoot, Rossendale.

Children can start as soon as they turn three, rather than waiting for the following term. Families can choose mornings, afternoons or both, with lunch provision supporting a full nursery day. That makes the choice about the shape of the child's day as well as their starting age.

Play connects the learning here. Nursery children use the shared early years building through planned activities and timetabled access to its areas, while the enclosed outdoor space gives learning another setting. They also have access to school facilities. Interaction with other early years children is part of this arrangement, rather than nursery operating as an isolated room.

The EYFS provides the framework for early learning and development. Development Matters guides the planning, helping staff consider how children learn and develop. A curriculum cycle spanning two years is intended to build learning progressively and limit repetition across the unit. For parents, the practical point is that play sits within a planned sequence.

Red Rose Phonics is the named early reading programme used from nursery onwards. In May 2023, nursery children practised telling sounds apart in preparation for later phonics learning. Encouragement to act independently and work together also helped early years children achieve well.

Curriculum development. In May 2023, some subject planning across the school remained unfinished, and some pupils' reading books did not fit their existing sound knowledge. These were school-wide concerns, rather than findings confined to nursery, but they provide useful context for the learning sequence.

An early years teacher works with a full-time Level 3 teaching assistant and additional support staff. This gives the nursery a teaching team within the school structure. Families are also invited to early years stay-and-play sessions, offering a way to share in their child's school experience.

In May 2023, early years children adapted successfully to school routines. Lunch is an option for children staying for the whole day, so attendance can continue across the midday break.

Toilet training is expected before starting, except where a medical condition or SEND need applies. Families should communicate those needs during the application process. For special educational needs and disabilities, the school uses an Assess, Plan, Do and Review process, with a SENCO contact route for parents. The exception to the toilet-training expectation matters: care needs should be discussed in the context of the individual child.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate online application through Lancashire's primary school application route. Applications are taken between September and January before the child is due to start school.

The shared early years building and planned access to its areas provide continuity of surroundings and opportunities to interact with other children. That familiarity is separate from the admissions decision. Choosing nursery and applying for Reception remain two distinct steps.

Morning sessions run from 9am to noon; afternoons run from noon to 3pm. Children can attend either session or combine them. The nursery participates in the government's 15- and 30-hour funded schemes, and additional sessions can be charged. An extra booked session remains chargeable if the child misses it. Contact the school for current charges.

For nursery enquiries or a visit, call the school office on 01706 214081. A look around can be arranged through the office. Nursery children sometimes join collective worship within this Church of England school; parents may withdraw their child from worship.