Woodland Community Primary School Nursery Review

In the 2024–2025 school year, Woodland’s nursery combined daily outdoor learning with a new number each week through Red Rose Maths. This is the nursery provision within Woodland Community Primary School in Birch Green, Skelmersdale.

At the inspection on 8 and 9 May 2024, Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good. Children, including those in Nursery, were achieving across the areas of learning and enjoyed investigating their surroundings. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Red Rose Maths provides a named strand of nursery learning. In the 2024–2025 school year, nursery children explored a different number each week and took learning outdoors daily. Numbers therefore formed part of outdoor learning as well as the maths programme.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the nursery’s curriculum framework. Here, its breadth includes early mathematical learning and preparation for reading: in May 2024, nursery children enjoyed exploring sounds and learning rhymes. These are small, concrete steps towards later reading. Early years teaching followed an organised curriculum, with trained staff putting it into practice effectively.

Themes give the nursery curriculum its own identity. Happy Families and Shine Bright feature in autumn; spring brings Toy Town and Over the Rainbow. Summer includes If You Go Down to the Woods Today and Ticket to Ride. These provide changing subjects for learning across the year.

During the 2025–2026 school year, construction work was taking place for a new nursery. This is a significant physical development for families considering the provision.

Support for additional needs includes an early years screening process using the WellComm Toolkit. Children falling below age-related expectations receive intervention. For parents concerned about communication or development, this creates a route from identifying a difficulty to arranging support.

School Support Plans bring parents into the process: targets and support are reviewed termly with the teacher and SENCO. For children under five with an Education, Health and Care Plan, reviews take place every six months. The school SEND team can be contacted at senco@woodland.lancs.sch.uk.

Medical care uses individual Healthcare Plans recording symptoms, triggers, medicines and treatments. Relevant staff can access the plans, helping information follow the child between adults. Parents are asked to update them when symptoms or treatment change.

The school’s accessible facilities include entrance ramps, disabled toilets, a shower and an electric changing table. These are school facilities, rather than nursery-specific room features. Pastoral support also extends to families, including help with transitions, behaviour concerns and completing forms.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal Lancashire County Council school admissions route and meet the deadline for their entry year.

Preparation for Reception is a separate matter. A summer introduction programme includes a meeting for parents and an introduction to the class teacher. Children with additional needs can have extra transition sessions according to their individual circumstances, helping preparation respond to the child.

Nursery admissions take place termly, using a Nursery Place Application Form. Enquiries go through the school office on 01695 720018 or sbm@woodland.lancs.sch.uk.

For collection, the school requires advance notice when someone other than a parent will collect a child. Individual handover arrangements can be made for children with SEND. Parents are asked to keep cars out of the school car park for pedestrian safety; disabled parking is available.