The Grange School Nursery Review

Children's interests and new friendships help shape life at The Grange's nursery. Children start from age three, within an all-through school on Latham Avenue in Runcorn. The nursery has 52 full-time-equivalent places: that is a capacity measure, rather than a count of children attending each session.

The year group is divided between two classes. At the Ofsted inspection on 4 and 5 May 2022, early years provision was graded Good. That judgement covers the school's early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Children's interests help shape the activities staff plan. The Myself and My Family topic explores what children enjoy, what they can do and what they want to learn. Familiar experiences provide a starting point for talking about themselves and getting to know other children.

Activities may include acting out stories and exploring changes in children and their families, introducing ideas about time. Festival activities and Christmas also feature in the topic. Alongside these experiences, children become familiar with routines and investigate their surroundings. The emphasis is on making connections between their own lives and new learning.

Early reading starts at a child's pace. In May 2022, children began work on letters and sounds during their Nursery Year when ready, with staff helping families practise reading together at home. Learning sequences also specified what early years children should learn and in what order, helping staff connect new work to existing knowledge.

Teaching consistency. In May 2022, some early years teaching was affected by gaps in teachers' subject knowledge and confidence in choosing teaching methods. This limited some children's progress. Further support for teachers was needed to make the planned learning work consistently in practice.

Getting used to nursery includes making friends, discovering the surroundings and learning new routines. Staff plan around children's interests, giving those early experiences a familiar starting point. Snacks are offered daily, and children are encouraged to taste them. A weekly contribution is requested; families should check current charges with the school.

In May 2022, relationships with staff helped early years children feel secure and happy. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities also benefited from prompt recognition of their needs and informed support, helping them progress through their learning. For families, the important connection is between identifying a difficulty and adapting the help a child receives.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application by the normal deadline. The 2026–2027 entry criteria give no priority for attending the nursery; they cover care status, siblings, qualifying children of staff and distance from home.

For September 2026 entry, applications were made online through Halton's school admissions service. The nursery place and the Reception decision are separate, so familiarity with the school should not be treated as an admissions advantage.

Nursery enquiries can go to info@thegrangeacademy.co.uk or 01928 562 660. A nursery application form and a parent declaration form are part of the application process.

Clothing includes a white polo with a blue sweatshirt and preferably black joggers. Footwear can be pumps or trainers with Velcro fastenings. Boydells Uniform Shop in Widnes supplies uniform, giving families a specific place to obtain it.