St Elisabeth's Church of England Primary Nursery

Nursery rhymes, traditional tales and Christian celebrations give this nursery its own character within St Elisabeth's Church of England Primary in Reddish, Stockport. Children can join in the term following their third birthday, subject to a place being available. The nursery occupies an on-site unit within the school's early years provision.

A qualified teacher works alongside two teaching assistants. Social skills, movement and language are explicit learning priorities, while nursery worship and Christian celebrations bring the school's religious character into children's experience. For families, this means choosing a nursery where faith is part of the day.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) day combines time together on the carpet with focused activities in small groups, outdoors as well as indoors. Between these adult-led periods, children choose activities in areas known as continuous provision. The pattern gives them both directed learning and opportunities to pursue their own interests.

Language learning has concrete starting points: children recite rhymes and explore traditional stories. Creative work in early years includes experimenting with texture, colour and materials, then expressing ideas through activities such as role play, dance and art. Computing also reaches the nursery through Mini Mash resources, with opportunities to make digital pictures, play games and move mechanical objects. These are practical ways to explore ideas, rather than learning confined to carpet time.

The inspection on 27 and 28 February 2024 judged early years provision Requires improvement. At that point, children interacted considerately and were confident learning together outdoors and in the classroom. Teaching was less consistent: staff who were new to early years lacked suitable training for the revised curriculum, and some activities did not teach the intended content. Achievement differed across learning areas, leaving some children insufficiently prepared for later learning. The required action was better curriculum training for early years staff. That concern matters when assessing the learning behind the activities.

Parents can join their child in a learning activity and exchange information with the teacher or key worker through the early years open-door arrangement. This creates a practical opportunity to pass on something staff need to know about the child. A notice board outside the nursery classroom carries event information, and parents are invited to participate in outings.

For additional needs, the school office provides a route to the SEND coordinator. Families can also access independent advice through Parents in Partnership and information through Stockport's Local Offer. These give parents further routes for discussing support alongside the nursery team.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through Stockport Local Authority's coordinated admissions process. Treat that application as a distinct step when planning your child's next year, rather than assuming a nursery place carries forward automatically.

The nursery offers 30 hours or a part-time 15-hour pattern, with morning or afternoon attendance for the latter. Nursery applications can be made through Stockport online admissions; the admissions team can support the application.

For enquiries, contact the school office on 0161 432 5785 or email office@thrive-ste.com. Guided school tours can be arranged through the office, giving families an opportunity to explore the setting before choosing it.