Handforth Grange Primary School Nursery

Seasons, stories and engineering give Handforth Grange’s nursery curriculum its character. Children’s interests help shape the learning, with books and celebrations providing starting points across the year. This is the school’s own nursery for children aged 3 to 4, with 52 places divided between morning and afternoon sessions.

At the Ofsted inspection on 30 and 31 January 2024, early years provision was graded Outstanding. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Learning follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), covering seven connected areas. For parents, that means language and communication sit alongside physical development and learning about feelings and relationships; literacy, mathematics, creative expression and understanding the world complete the picture. Nursery goals mark stages in children’s learning across the autumn, spring and summer terms.

Marvellous Me begins the autumn sequence, while Once Upon a Time provides a spring theme and Electrifying Engineers follows in summer. These give families specific topics to talk about at home. The nursery describes its approach as centred on children, drawing on their curiosity as well as seasonal changes and celebrations.

Science and engineering are woven through the year alongside technology, maths and the arts. A recurring selection of books also supports learning. The emphasis is therefore broader than early reading and number alone: stories and scientific ideas both have a place in the nursery curriculum.

Support for additional needs starts with adapting teaching, followed by targeted help and specialist advice where required. Parents participate in planning and reviewing their child’s support, giving them a role in decisions about how learning is adjusted. The school also has a sensory room among its SEND resources; equipment is allocated according to individual needs.

Personal care includes help with toileting while encouraging children to manage the parts they can do themselves. Privacy and dignity guide that support. Parents of children using nappies or continence pads provide the necessary supplies and spare clothing, so care can respond to accidents and individual routines.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place and gives no admissions priority. Families must make a separate application through their home local authority in the normal admissions round. For Cheshire East residents, the route is Cheshire East Council. Choosing the nursery and securing a school place are separate decisions.

For children with SEND who are moving into the school’s Reception class, the SENCO liaises with nursery staff during the preceding summer term. This transfers information about children on the early years SEN register so support can be planned for the next stage. It is a transition arrangement, not an admissions advantage.

Morning and afternoon sessions form the booking structure. Eligible children can receive funded early education for a maximum of 30 hours per week, with attendance days agreed between parents or carers and nursery staff. Families should plan around that agreed pattern.

Entry can begin in the term after a child’s third birthday, subject to a place being available. Joining later in the school year is also possible when there is space. Families changing early years settings must consult Cheshire East to transfer their funded entitlement.

For nursery enquiries, contact the school office at admin@handforthgrange.com or telephone 01625 526566. Guided school tours can be arranged through the office.