Lingham Primary School Nursery Review

Leaf sorting, seed planting and painting on pebbles give Lingham’s nursery curriculum a practical character. This is the school’s own early years provision in Moreton, with Little Acorns for children aged 2–3 and Foundation Stage 1 (F1) for ages 3–4. The younger children have the Little Acorns Room; the teacher-led nursery has a 26-place morning session. Families are choosing between two age-specific groups within the school.

Ofsted’s report dated 2 June 2026 judged the school’s early years provision to be at the Expected standard. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Play gives the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum its everyday shape. Activities respond to children’s interests and their stage of development, with learning taking place indoors and outside. In parent terms, this means practising communication, movement and social skills alongside early literacy, number and creative work.

The curriculum gives those broad areas concrete tasks. Nursery art includes drawing closed shapes, joining materials with masking tape and glue, and printing with rollers. Painting moves beyond paper to surfaces including pebbles and cling film. These activities give children different materials and tools to handle, with something of their own to make.

Science starts with things children can touch and observe. F1 children investigate ice as it melts, explore magnets, discuss floating and sinking, and plant seeds. Seasonal learning includes sorting autumn leaves by colour and observing spring flowers and leaves on trees. The environment becomes something to talk about.

Ofsted’s report dated 2 June 2026 described early years teaching that emphasised conversation, feelings and growing independence. Children practised managing coats and handwashing, while adult conversations extended their vocabulary. Familiar stories were revisited to help children remember them. The next step is to make recent curriculum changes, including those in early years, firmly established so that learning becomes deeper. Families should weigh that development work alongside the positive early years findings.

Settling begins with getting to know the child. September starters have home visits from the nursery teacher during the first week, followed by Stay and Play sessions both with parents and independently. This gives children time to meet staff and practise routines with support and independently.

Ofsted’s report dated 2 June 2026 described early years children settling readily, sharing and learning to wait their turn. Staff kept close contact with families and brought in outside professionals when additional help was needed. The school’s SEND approach includes individual learning plans and collaboration with specialist professionals, giving families a route for discussing support.

Compass is the school’s parent communication app, used for news, reports and absence information. For children taking a paid additional nursery session because they are not eligible for 30-hour funding, parents provide a packed lunch. Allergies and food intolerances affecting the day must be reported to the class teacher in writing so that a healthcare plan can be arranged.

Nursery attendance neither guarantees a Reception place nor appears as a priority in the school’s Reception oversubscription criteria. A separate application goes through Wirral Council. The Council’s co-ordinated scheme gives 15 January as the deadline; families must apply again through that normal process.

Once a Reception place is confirmed, transition includes an information evening, summer Stay and Play and a staggered start. These help children become familiar with their next classroom and adults. They are settling arrangements, separate from the allocation of places.

F1 mornings run from 8:45am to 11:45am. For two-year-olds, the February 2026 admissions policy gives Monday-to-Friday afternoons of 12:15pm–3:15pm, while the school-day timetable gives 12:30pm–3:30pm. Use the session details in the offer letter when planning collection.

The 15-hour entitlement for three-year-olds begins in the term after their third birthday and is term-time provision. Eligible families can seek 30 hours, but eligibility does not secure a full-time place: sessions depend on space. Paid sessions are also offered, with childcare fees payable through Compass at least one week in advance; contact the school for current charges.

Nursery uniform includes grey trousers or a skirt, a white shirt or polo and a royal blue jumper, cardigan or sweatshirt. Applications can be made online or on paper through the office. To arrange a daytime visit, call 0151 677 5381 or email schooloffice@lingham.wirral.sch.uk.