Beamont Primary School Nursery

A nursery building of its own and a learning journal shared with home give Beamont’s youngest children a distinct place within the primary school. Nursery provision starts at age three, on O’Leary Street in Warrington. Families can use a morning session, while eligible children can attend for a longer day through the 30-hour childcare offer.

There is an important educational caution. Ofsted rated the school’s early years provision Requires improvement following its inspection on 12 and 13 October 2022; this judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

The morning runs from 8.45am to 11.45am. For children eligible for the 30-hour offer, the day continues until 2.45pm, with a paid extension possible until 3.20pm. These different finishing times matter when matching nursery attendance to work and collection arrangements.

Learning follows the Early Years Foundation Stage, with children’s achievements recorded through Tapestry. This framework concerns children’s learning and development, including communication and social skills. For concrete examples, the October 2022 early years inspection considered how children developed their communication and learned to take turns with friends. Staff observations accumulate into an individual learning journal, giving parents examples of their child’s developing skills rather than just a general update. Families can contribute observations of their own, connecting learning at nursery with what happens at home.

In October 2022, children in early years were socially confident and practised sharing turns, but their learning was held back by weak curriculum planning. Expectations were too low, essential learning had not been defined clearly and some activities had little educational direction. Staff expertise in developing communication also needed attention. Curriculum and language development. These weaknesses affected children’s progress. Families should weigh the educational concerns alongside the practical appeal of the session arrangements.

Tapestry gives parents an active role in communication: they can read staff observations and add comments themselves. It also carries examples of teaching, home tasks and general messages, so the journal serves as a link between nursery and home throughout the year.

For concerns about development or special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), families can speak to the class teacher and then the SENCO or SEND Support Officer. Before a child starts, the SENCO is the initial contact. Support may involve a Pupil Passport and Provision Plan, with parents contributing to planning and termly reviews. Early years children with an Education & Health Care Plan have reviews every six months, providing a more frequent opportunity to reconsider their support.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Warrington Borough Council’s online primary admissions route, meeting the normal deadline for their entry year.

For September 2027 entry, nursery attendance carries the third oversubscription priority, after looked-after and previously looked-after children, then siblings. This gives attendance a defined place in allocation decisions when applications exceed places; it remains a priority rather than a promise of admission.

Transition support is a separate matter. The minimum offer includes a visit to school for introductory play, a home visit and a visit to the child’s nursery by the Reception teacher. Further visits or an individual transition plan can be arranged according to need, helping staff prepare for the child they will teach.

The 15-hour pattern uses the three-hour morning, while the 30-hour pattern provides six hours each day for eligible children. Families choosing the daily paid extension should contact the school for current charges. Nursery applications can be made at any time through the school office on 01925 630143; the team can discuss questions by telephone, email or face to face.

Drop-off and collection use the nursery building’s main door. Late arrivals go through the main office on O’Leary Street. At collection, staff release children individually to known adults on the contact list, checking identity where necessary. Parents can amend that list at the office or in writing, making authorised collection arrangements a practical task to complete before someone else collects.