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Nursery at Dallam Community 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Separate rooms for two-year-olds and older nursery children, with forest school available to both, give Dallam’s nursery a clear identity within the primary school. Seedlings caters for children aged two; Acorns is for three- and four-year-olds. The nursery belongs to the school’s Early Years unit on Boulting Avenue in Warrington.
This is teacher-led provision, supported by teaching assistants and midday assistants. Capacity depends on staffing ratios rather than a fixed nursery total. For families, the distinction between the younger and older rooms also matters practically: the nursery’s 30-hour offer applies only to the three- and four-year-old room.
Play combines children’s own choices with activities led by teachers. Dallam follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), using Birth To Five to guide learning. In everyday terms, the approach brings communication, early reading, writing and maths into play, rather than treating learning as a sequence of formal lessons. Talking with other children is a deliberate part of the classroom setup.
Resources allow children to explore in different ways, with opportunities planned for creativity and social interaction. Outside, all nursery children can use the outdoor learning area and forest school. Outdoor learning is part of the nursery’s approach, giving children another setting for exploration beyond their room.
Read Write Inc begins in nursery, and a planned selection of books introduces different authors and types of text. Physical preparation for writing includes activities involving both larger movements and fine hand control. Maths uses NCETM Numberblocks materials alongside counting in everyday exchanges, games, songs and number rhymes. These are concrete ways to bring language and number into the session.
Settling can take longer for some children. The nursery team works with the SENDCo and Family Liaison Officer, and parents who anticipate additional needs can speak with the SENDCo before their child starts. This gives families a route to discuss support early.
Within EYFS classrooms, sensory dens and equipment indoors and outside provide options for children with sensory needs. Staff use Makaton, while visual timetables, Now/Next boards and timers help make routines understandable. Support staff are available in every EYFS class above the minimum early-years ratios. These arrangements offer specific ways to adapt the day to individual needs.
Food arrangements are straightforward: sessions include a snack and drink without an additional charge. Children staying through lunchtime bring a packed lunch. Families also supply nappies, wipes and sun cream, allowing them to choose the products their child uses.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal admissions process by the normal deadline. September Reception applications are made online through Warrington Borough Council, which administers admissions for The Challenge Academy Trust. Treat that application as a separate task from nursery enrolment.
Transition support is a different matter. Before Reception entry, the Reception teacher undertakes nursery or home visits during the summer term, with the SENDCo accompanying them where appropriate. This creates an opportunity to share a child’s needs before the move; it does not secure admission.
Morning sessions run from 8:30am to 11:30am; afternoons run from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. The nursery operates for 38 school weeks and provides no holiday care, so families need a separate holiday arrangement.
Funded places cover 15 hours, or 30 hours for eligible children in the older room. Those using 30 hours can stay through lunch in a continuous block. Funded sessions carry no mandatory additional charges. Trips are optional, and children can attend their usual nursery session if they do not take part.
Additional paid sessions for three- and four-year-olds depend on spare capacity and there being no waiting list. Contact the school for current charges. To enquire or collect the nursery application paperwork, visit the school office or call 01925 633927.
Seedlings is for two-year-olds, while Acorns caters for three- and four-year-olds.
Morning sessions are 8:30am to 11:30am. Afternoon sessions are 12:30pm to 3:30pm.
Eligible children can use 30 hours in the three- and four-year-old room, including a continuous block over lunchtime. This offer does not apply to the two-year-old room.
A snack and drink are included. Send a packed lunch if your child stays at lunchtime, together with nappies, wipes and sun cream as needed.
No. Reception requires a separate application through the normal admissions process. September applications are made online through Warrington Borough Council.
