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Nursery at Douglas Valley Nursery 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
A climbing tree, monkey bars and recipes give Douglas Valley’s early learning a practical character. Children work towards telling stories, making models and choosing how to tackle a task. Play has a purpose here.
Just outside Wigan Town Centre, this local authority nursery school has Under 3s provision for children aged two to three and Pre-School sessions for three- and four-year-olds. These are the school’s nursery services, with separate rooms for the two groups.
Children can move between indoor and outdoor play in both age groups. For three- and four-year-olds, two planned group sessions each day sit alongside longer periods of play that children initiate themselves. Staff plan around individual interests and learning needs, so a child’s chosen activity helps shape the teaching rather than simply filling time between group activities.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines learning to communicate, move and manage feelings with early literacy, mathematics, creative work and discovering the world. Douglas Valley makes those broad areas concrete. Its curriculum goals include retelling a familiar story, drawing a detailed picture, constructing a model and following a recipe. Counting measures and choosing shapes bring mathematics into things children want to make. Outdoors, the climbing tree and monkey bars feature in goals for confident movement and learning to judge risks.
OPAL, short for Observation of Play and Learning, is the approach used to document progress. Drawing the Write Way targets coordination between seeing and moving, while core stories give children repeated encounters with books. In February 2024, Ofsted found that carefully chosen stories and explanations helped children develop vocabulary and enthusiasm for listening. Books are teaching tools as well as entertainment.
Each child has an allocated key person from the start. Informal conversations at session beginnings and endings give parents a regular point of contact. Stay and Play sessions let families join activities, while termly Pre-School open days focus on progress. A newsletter every half term and notice boards at the entrances provide further communication.
Settling means learning familiar routines as well as forming relationships. In February 2024, children, including two-year-olds, were comfortable with story sessions and tidying up; staff helped them understand feelings, behaviour and respect for shared resources. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) joined activities successfully, and staff recognised their needs early and adapted teaching. Targeted groups cover language, wellbeing and sensory processing. This gives support a place within the learning day.
Breakfast, lunch and after-school clubs form part of the term-time services. The Under 3s induction information includes Healthy Lunchbox Ideas, Snack and Toilet Training. Safeguarding arrangements were effective in February 2024.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the applicable deadline.
Preparation for that next stage includes curriculum goals for cooperating with other children, discussing learning and selecting materials for a planned task. Those goals concern growing independence; they do not secure admission to a primary school.
Term-time pattern. Education sessions run during school terms, which matters when arranging holiday care. The 2025–2026 fee schedule listed full days from 9am to 3pm and Wednesday half days from 9am to noon or 12.45pm to 3.45pm. Additional paid Pre-School sessions included a 3pm to 3.45pm after-school option and three-hour sessions. Confirm current charges with the school before booking.
For that same 2025–2026 schedule, Pre-School funding comprised 15 hours, with 30 hours subject to eligibility. Under 3s funding listed separate 15-hour deprivation and working-parent routes, each conditional on eligibility. Families need to match their booking to the relevant entitlement and any paid additional sessions.
Uniform is optional: a green sweatshirt and yellow polo top carry the school logo. A pump bag can hold spare clothes on a child’s peg. Enquiries can go through the contact form, by telephone on 01942 705301 or by email to enquiries@admin.douglasvalley.wigan.sch.uk. Families can also use the virtual tour to look at the Under 3s and Pre-School rooms.
Under 3s provision caters for children aged two to three, with Pre-School sessions for three- and four-year-olds.
Yes. Both groups have free-flow indoor and outdoor play. The curriculum’s physical goals include using the climbing tree and monkey bars.
Parents can speak informally with their child’s key person at session beginnings and endings. Pre-School open days take place each term, alongside Stay and Play sessions and half-termly newsletters.
No. Families can choose the optional green sweatshirt and yellow polo top bearing the school logo.
No. Reception requires a separate application through the normal admissions process, by the applicable deadline.
