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Nursery at Millbrook 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Weekly Forest School and outdoor learning throughout the session give Millbrook’s nursery a clear character. This is the school’s own early years provision on Bank Road in Stalybridge, with funded options for three- and four-year-olds and a choice of morning, afternoon or longer days.
Home visits, play with adults and time for children’s own ideas are part of the early years approach. For families, the combination means a school-based start that still gives exploration a substantial place in the day.
Outdoor learning is woven into the routine. Nursery children can use the outdoor provision continuously, rather than waiting for a scheduled playtime. Forest School adds a weekly session in the school’s dedicated woodland area, making contact with nature a regular part of nursery life.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) covers seven learning areas. Millbrook puts particular emphasis on talking and understanding language, physical development, and personal, social and emotional development. In parent language, that means attention to how children communicate, move, build relationships and handle feelings alongside their early learning.
Children have time to choose their own play, explore and use their imagination. Adults also demonstrate skills and language, extend children’s ideas and work with small groups. Direct teaching includes early reading, writing, maths and phonics. The balance gives children opportunities to pursue an interest and to learn something with adult guidance.
Indoor and outdoor activities respond to children’s interests and their next learning steps. Staff use daily observations and Evidence Me to follow development, while Padlet helps track what comes next. These assessments inform the activities children can choose, rather than sitting apart from the day’s learning.
Settling starts with contact between home and nursery: home visits and transition sessions are offered. Stay-and-play events and parent lunches give families further opportunities to take part. Communication continues through Dojo, with parents’ evenings each term and assessment information shared with parents.
For children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), staff monitor development and respond to emerging difficulties. Support follows a cycle of assessing needs, planning help, putting it into practice and reviewing it. Parents are informed when special educational provision begins, so they remain involved in decisions about their child.
Children receiving SEND support have SEN profiles reviewed each term and shared with parents. The class teacher, supported by the SENCO, meets parents twice a year. That creates scheduled opportunities to reconsider support as needs change.
Booked lunches are paid for separately. The 30-hour funded offer does not cover meals or consumables such as nappies and sun cream; charges for these additions may be agreed between parents and the school.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place and does not confer priority under the oversubscription criteria. Families must make a separate application. Tameside residents apply online to Tameside Council; families living elsewhere apply through their home local authority.
For the 2026/27 intake, the application deadline was 15 January 2026. That cycle has passed. Parents considering a later intake should follow the normal application route and deadline for that year, keeping the Reception application separate from their nursery booking.
Morning nursery runs from 8:45am to 11:45am; afternoon nursery runs from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. The 30-hour day runs from 8:45am to 2:45pm. Paid extensions have differing advertised finishes of 3:15pm and 3:30pm, so agree the collection time when booking. Preferred part-time sessions cannot always be accommodated.
Hours are agreed ahead of each term. Universal funding covers 15 hours a week for three- and four-year-olds, with 30 hours for eligible children. Families using only the universal entitlement can purchase an additional 15 hours. Ask the school for current charges. Booked lunches and additional sessions are payable in advance by Monday morning through Parentmail IRIS.
For nursery applications, return a completed form to the school and bring the child’s birth certificate. Enquiries go to the office at mail@millbrook.tameside.sch.uk or 01457 834314.
Morning sessions run from 8:45am to 11:45am and afternoons from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. The 30-hour day is 8:45am to 2:45pm. Agree the finish time for a paid extension when booking, as 3:15pm and 3:30pm finishes are advertised.
No. Nursery attendance gives no priority under the oversubscription criteria, and a separate Reception application is required through the relevant local authority.
Yes. Every nursery child takes part in Forest School each week. The school has a dedicated woodland area for these sessions.
Home visits and transition sessions are offered, alongside stay-and-play events, parent lunches, Dojo communication and termly parents’ evenings.
The 30-hour funded offer excludes meals and consumables such as nappies and sun cream. Booked lunches are paid for separately, and the school may charge for agreed additions.
