Cooper and Jordan Church of England Primary School Nursery

Messy play in Little Coopers and book-led topics in Nursery give Cooper and Jordan’s youngest children two distinct starting points. Little Coopers caters for two-year-olds in the Church Centre beside the main school building. Nursery occupies a classroom along the corridor from the KS1 Hall, with its own outdoor area. These are different spaces within the school’s early years provision.

Nursery entry starts in the academic year in which a child turns four, and the daily admission number is 52. Morning, afternoon and full-time attendance sit alongside Little Coopers’ more flexible session choices. Families can therefore consider both their child’s stage and the pattern of care they need.

Development Matters guides Nursery teaching within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). In parent terms, learning combines communication, physical skills and personal development with early literacy, maths, creative expression and exploration of the world. Independence is an explicit nursery aim, with particular attention to the personal and social skills children need for their next stage.

Sessions mix activities led by adults in small groups with practical experiences, structured play and opportunities children choose themselves. Three colour groups help organise children across the attendance patterns. A fresh topic each half term draws learning together around selected books: Winter Wonderland, Magnificent Minibeasts and Once Upon A Time give a flavour of those themes. The classroom and outside area provide separate places for this learning and play.

For two-year-olds, Little Coopers includes water and messy play, crafts, role play and small world activities. Play also addresses smaller hand movements and larger physical skills. The provision aims to develop communication, social confidence and independence through these experiences.

Faith is part of the routine. Daily prayers are part of Nursery’s Christian ethos, and children are encouraged to participate. They often hear Bible stories and join Christian celebrations at Aldridge Parish Church. Both Little Coopers and Nursery explore a different Bible story each half term through activities, songs and storytelling. This makes the Church of England character a practical consideration for families.

In June 2024, Ofsted found that early years children enjoyed stories in small groups, with related themes and activities, and readily talked about favourite books. That offers a concrete picture of how shared reading contributes to the day.

A nursery teacher sits within the EYFS team, while Little Coopers has a nursery nurse and teaching assistants. The school’s wider SEND team includes specialist teaching assistants and an ELSA co-ordinator. For families needing additional support, the SENDCo is available at school each day and can be contacted by telephone or contact form.

Safeguarding responsibilities extend across the staff team: concerns must be recorded and passed to designated leads. All school staff receive Level 1 safeguarding training, with annual updates. That gives families a defined route for raising concerns about their child’s welfare.

Attending Nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Parents must make a separate application online through Walsall Council, following the normal Reception application timetable. Treat that application as a separate task even if your child is already settled here.

Preparation for the next stage centres on learning. Nursery aims to strengthen communication, physical development and personal, social and emotional skills before children move on. This curricular preparation should be considered separately from the allocation of a school place.

Nursery sessions run from 8.45am to 11.45am and from 12.30pm to 3.30pm. Attendance is for either 15 or 30 hours each week, Monday to Friday; the limited full-time places depend on eligibility. These fixed sessions matter when matching nursery attendance to work and collection arrangements.

Little Coopers offers mornings, afternoons, all-day attendance and flexible wraparound care. For enquiries, telephone 01922 743765 or email postbox@cooperjordan.walsall.sch.uk. Nursery applications use a Cooper & Jordan application form, with places allocated by ranking applications against the admission criteria. Refer to the school for current charges.