St Thomas More Primary School, Belmont Nursery Review

Learning to share, take turns and become more independent gives the nursery at St Thomas More its clearest character. It forms part of the Catholic primary school on Thorndale Road in Belmont, rather than a separate setting. The school describes itself as a small school with a family focus, where staff know each child.

Ofsted graded the school's early years provision Good at the inspection on 7 and 8 February 2023. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.

Social learning has a visible place alongside the beginnings of academic learning. In February 2023, children in early years became familiar with routines quickly and learned how to get along with their peers. They paid attention when listening, waited for their turn and shared materials considerately. For a child beginning group education, these are practical foundations: joining in involves learning how to work alongside other children as well as developing individual skills.

At the February 2023 inspection, mathematics planning began in Nursery, giving number learning a place from the start. In February 2023, children were getting off to a positive start in both learning and social development. The indoor early years environment supported learning well. Outdoor provision was an area earmarked for further development to match the quality indoors, so the two spaces did not receive the same assessment.

Curriculum development. In February 2023, revisions to early years planning remained unfinished, including how learning connected with the next stage. Families should weigh that qualification alongside the positive findings about children's daily learning and relationships.

Independence develops through sensitive adult support. In February 2023, early years staff helped children become more self-reliant with care, while children also learned the routines needed to participate in the group. The emphasis was on helping young children manage more for themselves.

For special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the school aims to remove obstacles to learning through intervention and cooperation with other agencies. Its areas of support include language and communication, physical or sensory needs, learning difficulties, and emotional or social needs. Across the school, the February 2023 inspection found that some changes to tasks and choices of resources did not adequately meet pupils' SEND needs, slowing their learning. Further staff training was required. This was a school-wide concern, rather than a finding specifically about the nursery. This gives families several starting points for discussing a child's needs, rather than treating SEND as a single category.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the local authority's online Common Application Form, meeting the closing date set by Durham County Council. Treat that application as a distinct step when planning your child's next year.

There is also a teaching consideration separate from admissions. In February 2023, work to connect the sequence of learning across early years and into Year 1 was still incomplete. That concerned curriculum continuity, not entitlement to a school place.

For nursery enquiries, contact the school office on 0191 3864761 or email info@stmb.bwcet.com. The school is at Thorndale Road, Belmont, DH1 2AQ.

School term dates differ from Durham County Council's calendar. Use the school's dates when organising family holidays and childcare around school closures.