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Nursery at Churchtown 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Snowdrops and Buttercups give Churchtown’s nursery two distinct age groups, with a longer day for the youngest children. Snowdrops has 20 places for two-year-olds; Buttercups has 47 for children aged three and four. Entry begins in the term after the relevant birthday, subject to availability. This is the nursery provision within Churchtown Primary School in Southport.
The nursery aims to help children become independent and confident, with emotional wellbeing alongside learning. Ofsted rated the school’s early years provision Good following its inspection on 13 and 14 June 2023. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.
Children’s interests and individual needs help shape the learning opportunities. The nursery team plans around these, giving children’s developing enthusiasms a place in their learning rather than treating the age group as a single starting point.
Creative work, sensory activities and messy play sit alongside baking, cooking and gardening among the experiences supported by nursery resources. These give families a concrete picture of learning that involves handling materials and making things. An Early Years outdoor learning garden is among the facilities supported by the PTA, adding a physical outdoor setting to that picture.
Reading also has a clear place in early years. In June 2023, children developed enthusiasm for books from the beginning, with plentiful books chosen carefully. Effective routines began in early years too, helping children prepare for later learning. Books and familiar routines provide two useful foundations for the nursery day.
Relationships with families begin before children start nursery. The nursery aims to help parents feel prepared for this change, making that early contact part of the move from home into the setting.
Lunch is included in Snowdrops’ morning and full-day sessions. Buttercups has a separate lunchtime slot, and school meals carry an additional charge. That distinction matters when choosing sessions: the meal arrangements differ between rooms.
For children with an education, health and care plan, the school’s SEND coordinator plans with families and outside agencies before admission. Parents can also use CHIEFS, the school’s SEND family partnership, and contact the SEND or pastoral teams through the office. This gives families a route to discuss support before their child starts.
A nursery place does not guarantee admission to Reception. Parents must make a separate application through Sefton Council’s Citizen Portal, and the local authority allocates places. For the 2025 entry cycle, nursery attendance conferred no priority: the criteria concerned care status, exceptional medical or social needs, siblings and distance.
Transition activities are separate from allocation. Children offered a Reception place are invited to taster sessions in June and July to meet staff and classmates and become familiar with the classroom. Summer-term visits to children’s nurseries or homes also give families time to discuss concerns before the move.
Snowdrops offers a full day from 7:30am to 5:30pm, with morning and afternoon sessions divided at 12:30pm. Buttercups runs from 8:30am to 3:30pm; its morning finishes at 11:30am, lunch occupies the next hour, and the afternoon starts at 12:30pm. The different finishing times are a practical consideration for working families.
Three- and four-year-olds can use 15 funded hours from the term after their third birthday, with 30 hours for eligible working families. Funded hours cover 38 weeks. Confirm with the school whether your booking carries a 51-week contract for entitlement and additional sessions, with charges for the 13 unfunded weeks and additional sessions throughout the full contract year. This affects the commitment beyond term time. Some two-year-olds qualify through benefits or specific needs. Weekly consumables charges support resources including creative materials and food preparation; ask the school for current charges.
Families can register interest from their child’s birth using the nursery’s online Expression of Interest form. The school office can be reached on 01704 508500.
Snowdrops takes two-year-olds from the term after their second birthday. Buttercups takes children aged three and four from the term after their third birthday, subject to availability.
Snowdrops runs from 7:30am to 5:30pm. Buttercups runs from 8:30am to 3:30pm.
Lunch is included in Snowdrops’ morning and full-day sessions. Buttercups has a separate lunch slot, and school meals are charged additionally.
Three- and four-year-olds have a universal 15-hour entitlement, with 30 hours for eligible working families. Some two-year-olds qualify through benefits or specific needs. Funding applies for 38 weeks, and consumables carry separate charges.
No. A separate application through Sefton Council’s Citizen Portal is required. Nursery attendance gave no priority in the 2025 Reception admission criteria.
