Mendell Primary School Nursery Review

Colour mixing, mark making and conversation give Mendell’s nursery its character. The F1 nursery class belongs to Mendell Primary School on Allport Lane in Bromborough, Wirral. Here, children begin developing ways to express their ideas through art and play, with adults helping them find the language to explain what they are doing.

The school’s Ofsted judgement is Requires Improvement. This is a whole-school judgement, rather than a separate nursery inspection grade.

Child-led learning has a named approach: ShREC. Early years staff use it to support communication and children’s social and emotional development through their interactions during play. The nursery focuses on the prime areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). In parent language, these cover talking and listening, physical development, and learning about feelings and relationships. They provide the starting point for other learning.

Art gives that approach a practical form. Children explore marks and mixed colours in both indoor and outdoor provision, and use artists’ tools to practise the small hand movements needed for drawing. Adults join role play, ask questions and model vocabulary. The activity and the conversation work together: children have something concrete to discuss while experimenting with how to express themselves.

Other early years examples include making digital art on iPads and exploring toys operated by buttons or levers. Mapping the Foundation Stage outdoor area introduces another purpose for talk: children use their maps to explain where hidden treasure can be found. These are opportunities to connect actions, ideas and words through play.

Tapestry connects early years learning with home. Children’s progress and achievements are shared online, and parents can contribute their own observations. That gives families a way to add what they see outside the classroom to the picture staff are building.

For special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the class teacher is the first contact, with the SEND coordinator providing further support. Concept Cat is among the early years vocabulary interventions. Across the school, support can include adjustments to activities and resources, individual help or small groups. One Page profiles are discussed with parents at least once a term, giving families a regular opportunity to review support.

The school building has a single-level layout, with classroom entrances accessible from inside and outside. A nurture room and sensory space provide additional places for support. Medical care can involve an Individual Health Care Plan developed with parents and health professionals; administering medicine requires a signed consent form.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place and does not confer admissions priority. Families must apply separately through their home local authority. For Wirral residents, the normal application deadline is 15th January. Choose the nursery for the experience it provides now, while treating the later application as a separate decision.

Transition preparation has a different purpose. A summer Transition Day introduces children to their next teacher. Where needed, children with SEND can have extra classroom visits or an individual booklet to use over the summer. Those arrangements help children prepare for a change of class; they do not alter admissions priority.

For the F1 nursery class, the gates lock at 8:50am. Children arriving later enter through the main office. Adults collecting children must be on the contact list held by the office or classroom, so families should keep collection arrangements up to date.

Nursery enquiries go through the school office on 0151 334 1432 or schooloffice@mendell.wirral.sch.uk. The EYFS lead can also be contacted through the office, providing a route for questions about early years learning.