St Edmund's Catholic Primary School Nursery Review

Playdough stories, lunch in the school hall and daily playground time give this nursery a clear identity: young children have their own learning space while taking part in school life. St Edmund's nursery belongs to the school's early years provision in Abingdon. Children can start at the beginning of the term following their third birthday.

A large classroom and an outdoor area provide the nursery's main spaces, with dedicated staff supporting the children. Older pupils also spend time helping the nursery children, bringing contact with the wider school community into their day. Ofsted judged the school's early years provision Good at the inspection on 14 and 15 May 2025. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Short periods of adult guidance sit alongside time for children to choose activities, investigate and play. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework: learning through play, with activities shaped around children's interests, development and what adults observe. For the youngest nursery children, the emphasis falls on talking and listening, movement, relationships and managing feelings. These are the foundations for later learning.

Story Dough makes that approach concrete. Children use playdough to explore stories and talk about them, connecting language with something they can shape and handle. Early mathematics also grows out of play: children explore space and shape, compare objects' weight or size, and may begin working with numbers. Some letters and numbers are taught in nursery too.

Understanding the World includes stories, small world play and trips around the local area. Children explore seasonal changes, discuss differences between places and begin using globes and maps, including drawing maps of places they know. Technology has a place through simple programs and taking photographs. These are opportunities to investigate familiar surroundings in different ways.

The outdoor early years environment includes a canopy and AstroTurf surface. Nursery children also use the school playground each day. Catholic teaching is part of the curriculum through God Matters, so families should expect faith to form part of learning alongside the EYFS.

Emotional communication has a practical focus. The Zones of Regulation is used from nursery onwards, and each classroom has a station where children can indicate how they feel. Children are encouraged to develop personal strategies for managing emotions. This gives adults and children a shared way to discuss feelings during the day. In May 2025, nursery children spoke politely to one another.

Support begins within the early years approach: adults plan around individual development, work with parents and provide early intervention when children need additional help. For families, that means individual needs are part of planning rather than an extra consideration after activities have been chosen.

Lunch takes place in the school hall, and early years children receive a healthy snack daily. Edwards and Ward provides school meals; families order through Scopay by 9pm on the preceding day. The ordering deadline is a useful part of planning a full nursery day.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Oxfordshire County Council by 15 January in the year their child will start school. A supplementary information form should also go to the school office with supporting evidence. Baptised Catholic children receive priority for places.

Many nursery children subsequently join the school's Reception class, but some do not. Familiarity with the early years staff provides continuity for those who make that move. This practical familiarity is separate from the application and allocation process.

Families can choose morning, afternoon or full-day sessions. The afternoon runs from noon until 3.10pm; a full day starts at 8.45am and finishes at 3.10pm. The 15-hour pattern can be arranged across five mornings, five afternoons or two and a half days, giving families different ways to organise attendance.

Universal funding begins in the term after a child's third birthday and provides at least 15 hours each week during term time. The nursery also offers 30-hour funded provision and paid sessions to supplement funded attendance. Families do not have to buy additional services to use their funded entitlement. Contact the school for current charges.

To enquire or arrange a visit, complete the Nursery Expression of Interest Form or contact the school office. Stay and Play and Stay and Sing sessions offer another way to get to know the nursery. The office can be reached on 01235 521558 or at office.3856@st-edmunds-rc.oxon.sch.uk.