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Nursery at St Bernadette's Catholic Primary 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Storytelling, garden exploration and play give St Bernadette’s nursery its character. This is the school’s own provision in Yardley, Birmingham, for children aged three and four, with 52 full-time places offering 30 hours each week. It sits within the school’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), where Catholic faith shapes the curriculum alongside an emphasis on communication, curiosity and learning with others.
Play provides the framework for learning, both inside and outdoors. The EYFS brings together physical development, language and social skills with early literacy, mathematics, creative expression and understanding the world. For a parent, that means learning extends beyond letters and numbers: talking, making friends and exploring are part of the curriculum too. Adult-led activities sit alongside learning through the resources and activities children can choose throughout the day.
Daily stories and rhymes give language repeated attention. Talk for Writing uses storytelling and repetition to help children absorb language, adapt familiar stories and develop their own. Nursery pre-phonics concentrates on listening and attention. Mathematics is practical: children compare objects, sort them, describe what they notice and explore counting through play indoors and outside.
Two outdoor areas and a garden provide space for exploration. Visits to EcoPark add opportunities for den building, pond dipping and hunting for mini-beasts, bringing nature into children’s learning through direct experience.
Ofsted’s inspection on 11 and 12 January 2023 found that children enjoyed early years and responded positively to adults, but checks on their learning were inconsistent. At that time, the nursery curriculum was still being developed, and some adults missed emerging gaps because they did not assess understanding accurately. Checking understanding. This early-years concern makes assessment and the response to learning difficulties useful topics to discuss during a visit.
Settling starts with an induction day, an early lunch sitting and an outdoor play area for the youngest children. These give nursery children their own arrangements within the wider school. Cityserve supplies school lunches, with choices organised across a four-week menu cycle; families choosing school meals complete menu selections so the kitchen can plan ingredients and quantities.
For children needing additional support, the Early Years provision uses PICS (Play, Interaction and Communication Scale) to assess play, interaction and early communication. That gives staff a way to plan learning around a child’s developmental needs. Individual SEND Support Plans are managed through Insight, with reviews normally in October, February and May and parents invited to contribute before new outcomes are agreed.
The school’s wider support structure includes class teachers, teaching assistants, a SENDCo and pastoral staff. Families can request a monthly SEND Clinic appointment, subject to the SENDCo’s discretion when further discussion or specialist input is appropriate. Start with the class teacher for concerns about day-to-day learning.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Birmingham City Council’s School Admissions portal by its published deadline. The school also requires a Supplementary Information Form so Catholic admission criteria can be applied, with baptism evidence where applicable.
Preparation for the move is a separate matter. New Reception families have a summer-term session with the class teacher and SENDCo, followed by taster sessions during the latter part of that term. Meetings and information leaflets support the transition, giving families opportunities to discuss needs before the September start.
The nursery model is full-time, at 30 hours per week. Applications go directly to the school through its online Nursery Application Form or a paper copy from the office. Supporting documents are a birth certificate, address evidence and, where applicable, a baptismal certificate.
For enquiries, use admissions@stberns.co.uk or call 0121 783 7232. School tours take place in November, with visits also arranged through the admissions team. A visit offers an opportunity to discuss the learning and support arrangements that matter to your child.
The nursery caters for children aged three and four.
There are 52 full-time places, each offering 30 hours per week.
The EYFS has two outdoor areas and a garden. EcoPark visits offer activities including pond dipping, mini-beast hunts and den building.
No. You must apply separately through Birmingham City Council’s School Admissions portal by its published deadline and complete the school’s Supplementary Information Form.
Speak to your child’s class teacher first. The SENDCo can be contacted at sendco@stberns.bham.sch.uk; monthly SEND Clinic appointments are arranged at the SENDCo’s discretion where further discussion or specialist input is appropriate.
