St Christopher's RC Primary School Nursery Review

An outdoor play area for exploration, early reading through Concepts of Print, and a Catholic school setting give St Christopher's nursery its character. The provision caters for children aged 3–4 in Ashton-under-Lyne and forms part of the school's Early Years department. The school centres its ethos on kindness, courage, friendship and faith, so families are choosing a start to education with a clear religious identity.

Nursery children participate in school events, and parents can join their children in the department. That gives families opportunities to share this part of school life. We hold no published inspection grade for it.

Learning follows the 2023 EYFS Statutory Framework. Rather than dividing everything into separate school subjects, the early years approach organises learning across seven areas. Art, design and technology have nursery planning within that structure, keeping these experiences part of the early years curriculum.

Books have several roles in the day. Concepts of Print develops pre-reading skills, while Rocket Phonics introduces phonics through daily teaching from nursery. Guided reading also starts here. These are distinct building blocks: preparation for reading, work on sounds, and reading with adult guidance. In mathematics, nursery uses Development Matters.

The outdoor play area supports sensory exploration and investigation. Its emphasis on imaginative play gives children another way to explore alongside their classroom learning. The nursery says it wants children to develop at their own pace and build their imagination through new experiences. This is a useful distinction for parents: early reading has a defined place, while exploration remains part of the provision's stated approach.

Two full-time qualified teachers manage and work across the Early Years department. Teaching assistants hold Level 3 and Level 4 qualifications, have experience working with children and parents, and hold paediatric first aid certificates. This describes the department's team structure rather than a staffing ratio for an individual session.

Communication combines conversations in person with Tapestry. Parents can see their child's activities online and contribute photographs or films from home; the accumulated nursery record can be kept. It makes communication a two-way exchange. Parents are also invited to Friday assembly.

For children attending for 30 hours, lunch can be brought from home or purchased from school. That gives families a choice about the midday meal. Busy Bees provides breakfast when required during its morning session and a snack in the afternoon. For SEND enquiries, the school's SENCO can be contacted through the school telephone number, giving parents a direct route to discuss support.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route by the applicable deadline. Treat the nursery choice and the Reception application as separate decisions.

Taking part in school events makes nursery children part of school life, but that participation should not be treated as an admissions advantage.

The nursery offers 15 funded hours, with 30 hours available to working parents who meet the eligibility criteria. Additional morning or afternoon childcare is charged per session and is available, subject to availability, for families eligible only for 15 hours. School lunches and Busy Bees involve separate charges; contact the school for current charges.

Busy Bees accepts nursery children for care before and after school, with opening hours running from 7.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Booking requires both a session form and registration details covering dietary needs, medical requirements and family contacts. This gives working families an option to extend care around the nursery day.

For EYFS drop-off, children are taken to the door; collection is outside the doors in the EYFS area. Nursery applications use an application form. General enquiries go to admin@st-christophers.tameside.sch.uk or 0161 330 5880, and the office can arrange a visit.