Maintained Nursery Schools - why are they so unique?

What is different?
We are different from a Primary School Nursery in that we are specialists in early years education.
 
Our business is education
We are different from a private Nursery in that our business is education, not profit.  All our decisions are based on the  education and care of our children, from how we plan for teaching and learning to how we structure our day, and our environments.
 
Transparency and self-improvement are integral
Maintained means that we are Local Authority funded just as a lot of Primary and Secondary Schools are.  This guarantees the  levels of skill and qualifications we have and the both the integral and external rigour and drive for self-improvement.
 
  • By law we must employ a Headteacher who has QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) and also a SENDCo (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator) who must also hold the professional qualification to be able to lead the School's inclusion.  
  • As a School, we employ teaching colleagues with the same qualifications and accountability as other  teaching professionals
  • By law we have a Governing Body who work with us to challenge and develop our practice, provide regular support and scrutiny of the work that we do 
  • By law we are inspected by OFSTED under the Schools Inspection Framework - this is different to private, voluntary and independent settings
  • We are open and celebratory about our practice and want to share it with others.  We are keen to add to the professional development of the early years workforce and offer support and training. 
 
Sadly as at 2025 there are only 379 maintained Nursery Schools left in the UK - please value us, support us and help us to continue our 93 year old tradition of educating the youngest members of our society.