Maintained Nursery Schools are the highest performing part of our education system. With the majority of nursery schools serving some of the most deprived communities, they achieve outstanding results. 98% of nursery schools are judged outstanding or good by Ofsted.

Maintained nursery schools are one of the UK’s unique educational assets, and yet remain a largely untold story. Most families know about nursery classes attached to primary schools, nurseries run as private businesses and volunteer-run playgroups. Far fewer know there are maintained (that is, state-funded) nursery schools, or what makes them different from other early years provision.

Pioneers such as Rachel and Margaret McMillan set up nursery schools a century ago seeking to bring better health and educational opportunities to young children and their families. They used ground-breaking approaches such as a focus on play, outdoor activity and the holistic development of the child, many of which are being rediscovered today in ‘new’ developments such as forest schools.

Only around 350 maintained nursery schools still remain across the UK, and these numbers have been gradually eroded over the last ten to fifteen years.

Maintained Nursery Schools are publicly-funded schools, specialising in the 3-5 year old age range.  They have a high proportion of graduate staff and a Headteacher who is an early years specialist. This means that our sharp focus is on delivering play-based, age-appropriate education for our children, at a crucial stage of development.  This requires a very different set of approaches to later primary school.

Maintained Nursery Schools are required by law to have a Headteacher, qualified teachers and a qualified Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENCO).  The school's work is overseen by a Governing Body.

Crucially, maintained nursery schools do not make any profit, unlike private nursery providers.  Every penny of funding we receive is spent on securing the best education and future life chances of our children.  Our children will always come first!

We are inspected under the same rigorous Ofsted criteria as primary schools, rather than the different framework used for other early years settings in the private and voluntary sector.  

Maintained Nursery Schools are also leaders and innovators within the early years sector, recognised as centres of excellence.  We provide advice and support for other early years providers.  East Prescot Road is a strategic partner of the Liverpool City Region and Beyond Early Years Stronger Practice Hub, along with Everton Nursery School and Family Centre.

Why Maintained Nursery Schools Really Matter

Watch this great video to understand why nursery schools do matter.