St Michael Catholic Primary School & Nursery: Nursery Review

A dedicated Early Years playscape and a clear emphasis on communication give St Michael’s nursery its character. This is nursery provision within St Michael Catholic Primary School & Nursery in Ashford, with Catholic teaching woven into learning and celebrations. The emphasis is on children’s first steps in learning, rather than the achievements of older pupils.

Ofsted rated the school’s early years provision Outstanding at its inspection on 21 and 22 May 2024. That judgement covers the early years as a whole. In May 2024, the early years environment combined calm surroundings with clear organisation and an expectation that each child could succeed, giving young learners a purposeful start.

Language and communication receive specific attention in the early years curriculum. For parents, that places the ability to communicate alongside children’s developing knowledge: learning to express themselves is part of the educational emphasis here. The school also aims to build perseverance through a growth mindset, encouraging children to see learning as something they can work at.

Outdoor learning has a concrete home in the dedicated Early Years playscape, which supports nursery learning. This gives the nursery an outdoor learning space designed for its stage of development. The calm, organised early years environment identified in May 2024 provides the other defining feature: learning takes place within a clear structure.

Catholic Social Teaching uses the Caritas Rooted in Love programme across the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), with a different theme each half term. Its themes include caring for creation and treating people with dignity. The school connects these ideas with practical behaviour, such as kindness towards friends and respectful speech, making faith relevant to how children treat others.

At Advent, nursery children take part in performing the Nativity and singing carols for their families. These shared performances give parents a direct connection with children’s participation in the school’s Catholic life.

A nursery teacher sits within the early years teaching team. Across the school, a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCo) and an Assistant SENDCo support children and their parents or carers. That gives families a defined team to contact about additional needs.

Accessibility involves practical adjustments to classrooms, entry points and toilets, alongside furniture and learning resources. Parents and outside agencies are consulted about disabled pupils’ individual care and support. These arrangements make the physical environment and the child’s support plan part of the same conversation.

For concerns about a child’s emotional wellbeing, parents can speak to the class teacher or senior leaders. Safeguarding concerns have a separate contact route through the school’s designated safeguarding lead.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet the deadline for their child’s entry year. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as two separate decisions.

The nursery is based at Feltham Hill Road, Ashford, TW15 2DG. For enquiries, contact the school’s administrative team on 01784 253333 or email info@st-michaels.surrey.sch.uk. Admissions queries have a designated contact within that team, giving families a direct starting point for an application enquiry.