“The first five years have so much to do with how the next 80 turn out”
Since opening in 2007, Thames Primary Academy Nursery has been providing outstanding care and educational provision for children in our community. Part of Thames Primary Academy, we welcome children and families to join ours…..
“Let your potential soar”
Our nursery is managed and led by Hayley Rowcroft. She ensures that all children are accessing an exciting curriculum which is supported by highly skilled, dedicated practitioners ensuring that your child has the very best start to their education.
Hayley is our Pre-School Room Leader who ensures that all children are accessing an exciting curriculum which is supported by highly skilled, dedicated practitioners ensuring that your child has the very best start to their education.
All nursery practitioners are a minimum of level 3 qualified and with over 80 years childcare experience between us, we bring a wealth of skills and expertise to share with our families.
“90% of a child’s brain development happens before they are 5”
We know that through child led planning, strong key person relationships and a stimulating environment, children thrive within our care. Rated Ofsted outstanding in 2013, we go that extra mile to make your child’s nursery experience unforgettable.
Being part of school secures a smooth transition into school life. Using the schools facilities as part of our daily routine, as well as children from school coming into nursery weekly to read to them means the children already feel part of the school community, ensuring the move from nursery to school is a natural next step.
When you
Enter this
Loving school
Consider yourself one
Of the special
Members of an
Extraordinary family.
Nursery and Preschool Curriculum
Click to find out more about the Nursery and Preschool curriculum
Our Nursery Day
“Childhood is about playing, discovery and believing in dreams. The imagination and possibilities are endless.”
Nursery is open 8am-5pm, Monday – Friday, term time only. You can find the term dates under the ‘Parents’ tab.
Children from aged 2 are welcomed into our setting following a period of stay and plays (settling in sessions), enabling you to ease your little one into nursery life. Your child will have a key person who is responsible for supporting their development, planning for their learning and building positive relationships with your child and you too!
Throughout the day, we provide healthy snacks and meals at various times which the children are encouraged to access independently.
Continuous provision means the children can access all areas of learning at all times, allowing them to build on their play in various ways. Our nursery is beautifully equipped motivating your child to want to dive right in!
Outdoor learning
Not every classroom has four walls…..”
Our outdoor environment provides further opportunity for the children to extend their learning to include natural resources and let their imaginations run free. Children can’t wait to splash in the riverbed or create their own potions & pies in our outdoor texture kitchen!
Climbing up to our tree house is a real physical challenge for the children, providing them with a safe space to take risks and build confidence, they quickly become adept at navigating the tree trunks and whizzing down the slide.
Living in Blackpool also means we have an array of facilities at our fingertips. Trips to the local parks, the shops and even the Sealife Centre to enhance our children’s learning experience beyond the setting.
Healthy meals & snacks
Thames Primary Academy attach great importance to the provision of meals in our school and ensure that our meals are always healthy and balanced. Our in-house catering team work hard to produce a wide variety of meals for our children and all of our food is cooked fresh each day.
In nursery we encourage the children to drink milk or water at snack/mealtimes. Often children who won’t drink water at home, do drink it in nursery as they want to be just like their friends! We are proud advocates of our healthy eating and smile for life policies, helping children to understand from an early age the importance of keeping themselves healthy.
Children are offered snacks in the morning and in the afternoon, for example something like toast and milk/water, or rice cakes and fresh fruit in the afternoon with milk/water, at no additional cost.
If your child is here for lunch we will provide them with a nutritious hot meal and dessert for just £1.50, or you can provide them with a packed lunch.
Any children staying from 4pm are offered a light tea such as beans on toast to keep them going until they get home, at no additional cost to the hourly fee.
Here is a sample of our 3 week menu:
| Main | Vegetarian | Dessert | |
| Monday | Meatballs served with Vegetable Riceor Jacket Potato with various fillings | Roasted Vegetables in a Fresh Tomato Sauce served with Vegetable Rice | Ice Cream, Yoghurt or Fruit Salad |
| Tuesday | Homemade Chicken Pie served with a rich gravy with a Shortcrust PastryorFish Fingers Mashed Potato and seasonal Veg | Vegetable Pie served with a rich gravy with a Shortcrust PastryMashed Potato and seasonal Veg | Jelly and FruitYoghurtorFruit Salad |
| Wednesday | Homemade Pepperoni PizzaSpicy WedgesSweetcornorJacket Potato with various fillings | Cheese and Tomato PizzaSpicy WedgesSweetcorn | Homemade Creamy Rice PuddingYoghurtorFruit Salad |
| Thursday | Sausage with Sautéed OnionsHerby Diced Potatoes Homemade ColeslaworCheese and Tomato Pasta Bake | Quorn SausageWith Sautéed OnionsHerby Diced PotatoesHomemade Coleslaw | Banana or Strawberry WhipYoghurtorFruit Salad |
| Friday | Chicken Goujons or Sandwich SelectionChipsBaked BeansFresh Pasta Salads | Sandwich SelectionCheese Vegetarian Roll ChipsBaked BeansFresh Pasta Salads | Biscuit SelectionYoghurtorFruit Salad |
| Main | Vegetarian | Dessert | |
| Monday | Chicken Curry served with Vegetable Riceor Filled PaniniMixed Salad | Quorn Curry served with Vegetable Rice | Frozen Toffee YoghurtYoghurtor Fruit Salad |
| Tuesday | Homemade Minced Steak Pie served with a rich gravy with a Shortcrust PastryMashed Potato and seasonal Veg orJacket Potato with various fillings | Vegetable Pie served with a rich gravy with a Shortcrust PastryMashed Potato and seasonal Veg | Pears and Chocolate SauceYoghurtorFruit Salad |
| Wednesday | Roast PorkRoast PotatoesSpring Cabbage and CarrotsorCheese and Tomato Pasta Bake | Quorn FilletRoast PotatoesSpring Cabbage and Carrots | ShortbreadYoghurtorFruit Salad |
| Thursday | Beef Burger in a BunNoisette PotatoesGarden PeasorJacket Potato with various fillings | Vegetarian Burger in a BunNoisette PotatoesGarden Peas | Iced Sponge CakeYoghurtorFruit Salad |
| Friday | Breaded Fish FilletChipsBaked Beans | Cheese WhirlsChipsBaked Beans | Biscuit SelectionYoghurtorFruit Salad |
| Main | Vegetarian | Dessert | |
| Monday | Sausage with Mashed PotatoPeas & GravyorFilled PaniniMixed Salad | Quorn Sausage with Mashed PotatoPeas & Gravy | Peaches & CustardYoghurtor Fruit Salad |
| Tuesday | Homemade Pepperoni PizzaorSouthern Fried Chicken Strips in a wrap with Garlic MayoSalad Spicy Wedges Sweetcorn or Coleslaw | Homemade Cheese and Tomato PizzaorVegetarian Strips in a wrap with Garlic MayoSalad Spicy Wedges Sweetcorn or Coleslaw | Ice Cream TubsYoghurtorFruit Salad |
| Wednesday | Roast ChickenRoast and Boiled PotatoesCarrots and BroccoliorCheese and Tomato Pasta Bake | Quorn FilletRoast and Boiled PotatoesCarrots and Broccoli | ShortbreadYoghurtorFruit Salad |
| Thursday | Pasta BologneseGarlic breadorJacket Potato with various fillings | Vegetarian BologneseGarlic Bread | Iced Sponge CakeYoghurtorFruit Salad |
| Friday | Salmon Fish FingersChipsBaked Beans | Egg and Cheese FlanChipsBaked Beans | Biscuit SelectionYoghurtorFruit Salad |
Our Nursery Uniform
Wearing the Thames uniform not only gives your child a real sense of belonging but, practically, it also saves their own clothes from daily wear and tear!
Boys
Winter uniform:
- Grey trousers
- White polo shirt
- Thames v-neck sweatshirt
- Plain white/grey/black socks
- Strong black shoes
Summer uniform:
- Grey trousers/grey shorts
- White polo shirt
- Plain white/grey/black socks
- Strong black shoes
Girls
Winter uniform:
- Grey skirt/pinafore
- White polo shirt
- Thames cardigan/v-neck sweatshirt
- Plain white/grey/black socks/tights
- Strong black shoes
Summer uniform:
- Grey skirt/pinafore/purple gingham dress
- White polo shirt
- Plain white/grey/black socks
- Strong black shoes
2 and 3 Year Grant
2 year grant
Some children may be entitled to 15 hours free childcare through the 2 year grant. See below for the eligibility criteria:
The qualifying benefits are:
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit – if you and your partner are on a low income from work (this usually means a combined income of less than £15,400 a year after tax)
- tax credits and you have an annual income of under £16,190 before tax
- the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
- support through part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act
- the Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
Even if you are not receiving a qualifying benefit your 2-year-old can still get free childcare if any of the following apply:
- they’re looked after by a local council
- they have a current statement of special education needs (SEN) or an education, health and care (EHC) plan
- they get Disability Living Allowance
- they’ve left care under a special guardianship order, child arrangements order or adoption order
You can go to www.childcarechoices.gov.uk for more information, or call in for an application form which we can assist with.
All funding starts the term after your child is 2. For example if your child turned 2 in November, their funding would start in January.
3 year grant
All 3 year old children are entitled to 15 hours free childcare per week. This starts the term after they are 3. For example if your child turns 3 in February, the grant will start after Easter.
You can go to www.childcarechoices.gov.uk for more information, or call in and we can assist you.
To find out what help you can get with childcare costs click here.
30 hours free childcare
In addition to the free 15 hours, from September 2025 some 2 and 3 year old children may be entitled to an additional 15 hours.
The eligibility criteria is below:
You can usually get 30 hours free childcare if you (and your partner, if you have one) are:
- in work – or getting parental leave, sick leave or annual leave
- each earning at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week – this is £195.36 if you’re over 25
This earnings limit does not apply if you’re self-employed and started your business less than 12 months ago.
You’re not eligible if:
- your child does not usually live with you
- either you or your partner has a taxable income over £100,000
- you’re from outside the EEA and your UK residence card says you cannot access public funds
If you foster your child, you cannot apply online for 30 hours free childcare. Speak to your social worker and your local authority if you want to apply.
You can get 30 hours free childcare at the same time as claiming Universal Credit, tax credits, childcare vouchers or Tax-Free Childcare.
If you think you may be eligible, go to www.childcarechoices.gov.uk to complete the application. Once complete, if you are eligible, you will be issued with a code which you need to share with us. As with the other grants, the funding starts the term after you apply. If you apply in June, the funding will start in September.
Our Fees
Please see below our fees for 2025/2026.
| Morning session: 9:00 – 12:00 | £16.50 |
| Afternoon session: 12:00 – 15:00 | £16.50 |
| Full standard day: 8:00 – 17:00 | £49.50 |
| Full standard week: 5 days, 8:00 – 17:00 | £247.50 |
| Hourly Rate | £5.50 |
| Nursery Lunch | Included with all Full Day or 12-3pm sessions.(or you can send your child with their own packed lunch) |
“The first five years have so much to do with how the next 80 turn out”