WELCOME TO OUR
Early Years Foundation Stage
Caring Respect Empathy Courage Resilience
Achieving The Curiosity Approach Accreditation is a proud reflection of our commitment to creating exceptional Early Years experiences. Our calm, nurturing environments are thoughtfully designed with natural, open-ended resources that inspire curiosity, creativity and purposeful play.
Every space encourages exploration, independence and meaningful interactions, enabling children to think critically, solve problems and follow their own ideas with confidence. Through rich experiences, strong relationships and a language-rich environment, we build the secure foundations children need to flourish.
At Merton Bank, we believe childhood should be filled with wonder, discovery and joy. The Curiosity Approach reflects our vision of nurturing curious, resilient and capable learners who develop a lifelong love of learning - giving every child the very best start to their educational journey.
For more information have a look at our Nursery and Reception class pages. Click on the links below:
Available places
We have places available now for 3 year olds in our Nursery.
Your child is eligible to start at our school nursery in the term after they turn 3 years old. Our terms start in September, January and April.
We have places available for our Reception class for September 2026.
Reception September 2027 places will be available to apply in September 2026.
For more information please contact the school office 01744 22104 or email mertonbank@sthelens.org.uk
Our Intent for every child….
Our curriculum is rooted in the magic of stories, the joy of singing, the changing seasons and rich, real-life experiences that inspire curiosity, awe and wonder. We are committed to giving every child a memorable, nurturing and joyful start to their school journey, building the strong foundations they need to flourish as confident, capable learners.
Through carefully planned core experiences, purposeful play and high-quality interactions, we develop children's language, knowledge, skills and understanding while fostering meaningful connections with the world around them. Our ambitious curriculum is designed to spark curiosity, encourage sustained shared thinking and support every child to become an independent, resilient learner. We provide opportunities for children to look beyond their immediate environment, broadening their understanding of different people, places, cultures and careers, helping them to develop a strong sense of belonging and the confidence to embrace the wider world.
Language is at the heart of everything we do. We are passionate about ensuring every child becomes a confident communicator, an attentive listener and an enthusiastic storyteller. Through warm, responsive interactions and meaningful conversations, we nurture children's communication and language skills, recognising that strong language development provides the foundation for all future learning.
We expose our children to a rich and ambitious vocabulary every day, helping them to express their ideas, ask questions, solve problems and develop a secure sense of self. Carefully chosen stories, rhymes and songs create a golden thread that weaves through our curriculum, strengthening children's understanding, building meaningful connections and enriching every learning experience. Story time is a treasured part of each day, inspiring imagination, curiosity and a lifelong love of books while developing the early reading skills that enable children to become confident, independent readers.
By the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage, our children leave with strong foundations for lifelong learning. They carry with them a wealth of language, knowledge, memorable experiences and meaningful connections that prepare them for the next stage of their education. They are curious, resilient and courageous learners who embrace challenge with confidence and demonstrate growing independence, self-regulation and creativity through purposeful play and exploration.
Most importantly, our children know they belong. They have formed secure, positive relationships with adults and peers, show kindness, empathy and respect for themselves and others, and understand the importance of working together as part of a caring community. They leave our Early Years as valued members of the Merton Bank family, equipped with the confidence, skills and enthusiasm to flourish in the next chapter of their learning journey.
