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Nursery at St Columba's RC 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Nursery rhymes, musical instruments and books woven into learning give St Columba's nursery a recognisable early years character. This is the nursery within the Catholic primary school on Ripley Street in Bolton, with 52 places and children starting from age three. It belongs to the school's Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), the stage of education for its youngest children.
Ofsted graded the school's early years provision Good at the inspection on 10 and 11 April 2024. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery inspection.
Singing has a specific place in nursery learning. Children practise nursery rhymes and sing during phonics sessions, while songs connect with the subjects they are exploring. Musical instruments give them another way to experiment with sound. For parents, this means music is part of learning activities rather than simply an occasional performance.
Books also connect different activities. In April 2024, texts formed part of early years learning across the activities teachers planned. This gives children repeated opportunities to meet stories and language in different contexts. Familiar classroom routines were learned quickly, alongside clear expectations for behaviour.
Practical exploration combines activities led by adults with choices initiated by children. The design and technology approach begins in EYFS: children explore materials, make things for a purpose and develop techniques with simple tools. Choosing resources and expressing an idea through making are part of that approach, giving children something tangible to work on.
Catholic teaching has a named programme: Come and See. Nursery has its own topics, linked to a shared theme and the church calendar, with depth adjusted to children's ages. The programme moves from exploring familiar experiences to learning about faith and responding to it. For families, the Catholic character therefore extends into planned learning, rather than being only part of the school's identity.
Inclusion means keeping children connected to their class. The school's curriculum policy favours children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) learning alongside classmates, with adult help and work adapted to individual needs. This is a useful starting point for families considering how additional support fits into everyday participation.
Early Help provides a route for supporting children and families when difficulties begin to emerge. The school describes seeking parents' consent, involving them in decisions and assigning a lead person to coordinate support. Operation Encompass connects designated school staff with police information about domestic abuse incidents involving children, enabling support during the school day. These are school-wide arrangements relevant to nursery families.
Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through Bolton Local Authority and meet the normal deadline for their child's entry year.
The admissions page's dated example required applications by 15 January 2022. That belongs to a past admissions cycle and should not be used as the deadline for a new application. Keep the nursery application and the Reception application as separate tasks.
To apply for nursery, complete the nursery application form and return it to the school. The route differs from the local authority process for Reception, so sending one application does not complete both.
For nursery enquiries, contact the office on 01204 333421 or email office@st-columbas.bolton.sch.uk. The school address is Ripley Street, Bolton, BL2 3AR.
The school's provision begins at age three, and its nursery has 52 places.
Children sing nursery rhymes, learn songs connected to their learning and experiment with musical instruments. Singing also features in nursery phonics sessions.
Yes. Nursery religious education uses Come and See, with topics adapted to children's ages and linked to the church calendar.
No. Reception requires a separate application through Bolton Local Authority. Families must meet the deadline for the relevant entry year.
Complete the nursery application form and return it to the school. For enquiries, telephone 01204 333421 or email office@st-columbas.bolton.sch.uk.
