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Nursery at Mersey Vale 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Wellington boots stay at nursery, library books go home on Tuesdays, and songs and rhymes lay the foundations for reading. Mersey Vale’s nursery combines daily outdoor learning with a clear early literacy programme. It sits within Mersey Vale Primary School on Valley Road in Heaton Mersey, with early education funding arrangements for three- and four-year-olds.
Ofsted rated the school’s early years provision Good at its April 2024 inspection. That judgement covers the early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.
Play provides the starting point. The Early Years Foundation Stage, or EYFS, brings together children’s learning, development and welfare; here, children choose some activities themselves while adults lead others. Songs, stories and rhymes develop listening and awareness of sounds, giving children a foundation for learning to read.
From the summer term in Nursery, Read Write Inc introduces daily phonics sessions. Children revisit familiar sounds and learn new ones, with Fred talk helping them break words into sounds and put them back together. Letter formation and reading practice accompany this work. In April 2024, nursery children enjoyed rhymes and singing, which prepared them for the next stage of phonics learning.
The outdoor learning environment is used daily. Wet-weather clothing and boots therefore belong in the nursery kit, rather than being reserved for occasional outings. Sports sessions take place on Friday mornings and Wednesday afternoons, so the activities a child joins depend partly on their attendance pattern.
Books also connect nursery and home. Children select a library book each Tuesday, returning it on Monday. Maths takes a practical route: movement, music, stories and creative activities introduce measures, shape, space and number indoors and outside. These give children ways to explore mathematical ideas through play.
Curriculum oversight. In April 2024, checks on curriculum delivery in some subjects were insufficient, including in the early years. This could leave gaps in learning, making the consistency of teaching across the curriculum a relevant consideration alongside the reading provision.
The nursery team includes a class teacher, a teaching assistant and a bilingual support assistant. In April 2024, children in the early years valued their relationships with staff. For families with questions about special educational needs and disabilities, the school’s SENDCO provides a contact route, alongside information about Stockport’s Local Offer.
Class Dojo carries messages, class updates and entries in each child’s Portfolio. Parents can contribute photos and news themselves, helping staff understand children’s experiences beyond nursery. Parent meetings can be online or in person, and stay-and-play learning sessions provide another way to participate. Starting-nursery reading suggestions and a settling-in guidance document support preparation at home.
Fruit and milk are supplied at both afternoon and morning snack times. Children need a water bottle each day; those staying for lunch bring savoury food and a drink. Nuts and products containing them must be excluded because of allergies, and grapes must be quartered lengthways. A labelled change of clothes stays at school, making spare clothing part of the everyday care arrangements.
A nursery place does not guarantee admission to Mersey Vale’s Reception class. Families must make a separate application through Stockport Local Authority’s admissions system by the relevant deadline. The local authority allocates places, so attending nursery should never be treated as securing the next place.
Preparation for starting school is a separate matter. EYFS resources include school-readiness guidance and recommended reading about starting nursery or school, giving families practical material to use together at home.
Funding is organised around term time: the school describes up to 15 hours of early education weekly for three- and four-year-olds, rising to up to 30 hours for eligible families. Families can also retain another childcare arrangement while using 15 hours at Mersey Vale. Stockport Council provides the eligibility route.
The school follows Stockport Council’s term calendar, with five additional staff training days. Tours can be arranged through the office by appointment. For enquiries, call 0161 442 7535 or email headteacher@merseyvale.stockport.sch.uk.
Nursery children have a different sweatshirt colour from the main school uniform. Second-hand uniform can be obtained through the office, and clothing should be labelled. The school car park is restricted to staff and authorised visitors; families needing access assistance can contact the office before visiting.
No. Families must apply separately through Stockport Local Authority’s admissions system, and the local authority allocates places.
Yes. Songs, rhymes and stories develop early listening and sound awareness. Read Write Inc begins from the summer term in Nursery, with daily phonics sessions.
The nursery supplies fruit and milk for snacks. Bring a water bottle daily, plus savoury food and a drink if your child stays for lunch. Exclude nuts and nut-based products, and quarter grapes lengthways.
Class Dojo provides class news, direct messages and updates in children’s Portfolios. Parents can also share photos and messages with the team.
Yes. Contact the school office to arrange an appointment for a tour, by phone on 0161 442 7535 or by email at headteacher@merseyvale.stockport.sch.uk.
