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Nursery at St Anne Line Catholic Infant School
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Messy play, daily garden time and Catholic prayer give this nursery its character. Nursery education begins at age two at St Anne Line Catholic Infant School in Basildon. Ducklings and Wagtails are linked to the infant school, giving the youngest children access to school resources alongside their nursery spaces.
Catholic life includes the youngest children. In May 2026, the two-to-three-year-old nursery class gathered for prayer at the grotto. Faith has a physical place here, as well as a place in the school’s mission.
Children’s interests help shape the learning. In the Moment Planning is the nursery’s named approach, and teaching across the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is child led. Within the EYFS, children learn through practical exploration shaped by their interests. Daily garden activities and the coached multi-skills programme provide opportunities for physical learning. The school also aims to involve families in learning and development and to include and support every child.
Practical exploration matters. Activities can get messy, and aprons are provided, though they do not keep every splash away. Two large classrooms connect through an outdoor area with a safety surface and learning resources. Children use the nursery garden daily, so outdoor exploration is part of the ordinary session rather than an occasional addition.
Movement also has its own provision: specialist sports coaches deliver a multi-skills programme that includes nursery children. This adds structured physical activity to the opportunities for exploration in the garden.
Each child has a focused week once a term. Parents contribute their observations about development, while staff record observations and teaching moments through Tapestry and individual files. That gives family knowledge a place alongside what practitioners see during nursery activities.
Key-person responsibilities sit within the nursery practitioner team. Communication also includes the focused-week invitation to parents, making their perspective part of the discussion about their child’s development.
For children with special educational needs and disabilities, the school’s support structure includes an EYFS SEND role, a SENDCo and a Trust SENDCo. The school says it works with families and responds to individual needs and preferences. Parents can contact this team at send@salinf.org, providing a direct route into a discussion about support.
Lunch is a practical family responsibility for the 30-hour session: parents provide a packed lunch. Prospective families can also take part in open days and Messy Play events, offering a chance to experience nursery activities together before joining.
Separate application. Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families apply again through the local authority route; nursery enrolment does not replace that application.
For the September 2026 intake, nursery attendance was not an oversubscription criterion. Applications used Essex’s online Common Application Form, with a deadline of 15 January 2026. Supplementary Information Forms and supporting original documents were due at the school office by 3pm on 30 January 2026. Those deadlines belong to a past intake. The useful distinction for families is between joining nursery and applying separately for school.
Morning nursery runs from 8.30am to 11.30am, with an afternoon session from 12pm to 3pm. Each offers a three-hour block, giving families a defined collection time to plan around.
Funded patterns include 15 hours from the term after a child’s third birthday, arranged as five three-hour morning or afternoon sessions. The 30-hour pattern comprises five six-hour sessions for families meeting government criteria. Eligible two-year-old funding also uses five three-hour sessions. Paid sessions are offered; contact the school for current charges.
Nursery application forms come from the school office, and visits can be arranged by appointment. Enquiries can go to office@salinf.org or 01268 524263.
For collection and drop-off, families are directed to park at Holy Trinity Church and follow the path beside the junior school field. Road access is restricted by traffic-management measures, so allow for that short walk.
Nursery education starts from age two.
Morning nursery is 8.30am to 11.30am. Afternoon nursery is 12pm to 3pm.
Each child has a focused week once a term, when parents are invited to contribute their views about development. Staff record observations through Tapestry and individual files.
No. A separate local authority application is required. Nursery attendance was not an oversubscription criterion for the September 2026 intake.
Yes. Visits are welcomed by appointment through the school office.
