Cobbs Brow School: Acorns Nursery

Stories, rhymes and learning to share give Acorns Nursery its character: an early start to school life where becoming independent matters alongside learning. Cobbs Brow’s nursery provision welcomes two- and three-year-olds in Ashurst, Skelmersdale. It belongs to the school, with a nursery class teacher and an Early Years Foundation Stage lead who also holds the SENDCO role.

Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Outstanding at the inspection on 25 and 26 March 2025. That judgement covers early years across the school. The nursery-specific findings give it substance: children establish routines from Nursery Year, developing confidence in doing things for themselves and spending time with others.

Books have a clear place in the nursery experience. In March 2025, children were developing an enthusiasm for stories, with poetry and rhymes alongside them. For a parent, that makes early literacy about enjoying language and listening as well as the later business of reading words.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together communication, movement and social development with early maths, literacy, creative expression and exploring the world. Activities across these areas are planned around children’s individual needs and interests. Across early years, including the provision for two-year-olds, activities held children’s interest and helped them develop knowledge across the learning areas in March 2025.

Acorns’ class teacher places emphasis on learning outdoors, creative activities and sensory play with materials children can manipulate. That gives a sense of the teaching interests shaping the nursery. Social learning is equally concrete: early years children practise sharing, waiting for a turn and dealing with disagreements. Learning to be part of a group is part of the day’s work.

The nursery class teacher holds qualified teacher status, an early years BTEC National Diploma and a Childhood and Youth Studies BA Hons, alongside paediatric first aid training. This combines teaching preparation with early childhood study and a practical care qualification.

For additional needs, the school uses assessment and tracking to identify support requirements. An individual education plan can provide extra help and is shared with parents. Speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and educational psychologists are among the outside professionals the school may involve. These are school-wide arrangements; families can raise concerns with the SENCO.

Communication also has a direct route. Seesaw lets parents contact teaching staff about worries, while home/school communication books support children needing more frequent updates.

Attending Acorns Nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Lancashire County Council’s online route, meeting the normal application deadline. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for school as two separate decisions.

For the change of class itself, the school provides move-up days, opportunities to meet the teacher and extra transition sessions. Additional sessions can support a child who finds the move difficult. Familiarity and preparation help with the change; they do not secure admission.

Acorns Nursery starts at 8.50am and finishes at 3.20pm. Those times give families the daily boundaries for planning journeys and collection.

For nursery application forms and further details, contact the school on 01695 720632. Acorns is based at Cobbs Brow Primary School, Manfield, Ashurst, Skelmersdale, WN8 6SU.