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Nursery at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Barrow
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Stories, rhymes and spoken language give Sacred Heart’s nursery its clearest character. This is the school’s own provision for children from their second birthday, with capacity for 24 pupils in each of the morning and afternoon sessions. Nursery entry points fall in September, January and April (Easter), depending on a child’s age and space in the class.
The nursery belongs to a Catholic primary school in Barrow-in-Furness. Its accommodation also deserves attention: in April 2024, the nursery classes occupied the main school site. The school continues to use temporary buildings while redevelopment is proposed, so the building programme is a practical consideration for families choosing the provision.
Language comes first. Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised provides the nursery’s Foundations for Phonics approach, with daily practice in oral blending alongside stories and rhymes. Children work with spoken sounds as preparation for reading. The emphasis is on listening and language development, giving parents a concrete picture of the early learning rather than simply a curriculum label.
Daily storytime and classroom book areas add to that focus. Books are selected carefully, including work by a focus author, and nursery children encounter Little Wandle’s Foundations for a Love of reading stories. These give books a place beyond the sound practice itself. Music uses the Dimensions scheme from the early years onwards, bringing listening, performance and musical vocabulary into the curriculum.
Before children start nursery, the class teacher and a teaching assistant make home or school visits. That creates an opportunity for families and staff to meet before the new routine begins. In April 2024, two-year-olds settled readily and developed a sense of belonging; routines were introduced from the early years onwards.
In April 2024, additional needs were identified quickly, starting in the early years. For children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), enhanced transition can include extra classroom visits and time with unfamiliar staff. Where a child has an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP), the school attends their early years review and liaises with parents, nursery staff, advisory teachers and medical professionals. Familiarity and communication are the practical tools here.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application, using the online route or paper SA1 form, by the January deadline. Westmorland & Furness Council provides the online application route; a supplementary school form must also be returned by the deadline. Treat this as a fresh application.
Transition support is separate from allocation. New Reception children are invited into school during the summer term to meet their teacher and future classmates. Parents also have a meeting where they can ask questions, helping the family prepare for the change.
Morning and afternoon sessions each have 24 places. Nursery forms, including SA13, are collected from the main school office and returned to the administrator; the school allocates nursery places. Enquiries can go to office@sacredheart.cumbria.sch.uk or 01229 260367. Visits can also be arranged through the school.
Building works. The December 2025 redevelopment proposals aimed for completion by September 2027, subject to planning permission. Temporary buildings would remain in use during the works. Families should factor that accommodation into their choice, rather than treating the proposed new building as the nursery’s present setting.
Children are accepted from their second birthday. Starts are in September, January or April (Easter), depending on age and available space.
There are morning and afternoon sessions, with 24 places in each.
The nursery uses Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised Foundations for Phonics, including daily oral blending, stories and rhymes.
No. A separate Reception application is required through the online route or paper SA1 form by the January deadline, alongside the supplementary school form.
The class teacher and a teaching assistant make home or school visits for children starting nursery. Children with SEND can also receive additional visits to become familiar with their classroom and staff.
