St Benedict's Catholic Primary School Nursery Review

Play, an outdoor classroom and Catholic teaching give this nursery its character. St Benedict's takes three and four year olds within the school's foundation stage unit in Netherton, Bootle. The nursery admission number was 26 for the year beginning September 2025; that is a nursery intake figure, rather than the capacity of the whole school.

This is school-based early education with its own class teacher and two members of class support staff. For families, the defining combination is a play-led curriculum and access to the school's arrangements for pastoral care, communication and additional needs.

Children's interests help shape the learning. Topics and play sit alongside tasks led explicitly by adults, giving the day both opportunities to explore and periods of directed activity. The outdoor classroom has a particular place in the foundation stage approach: learning extends beyond indoor classroom work.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) covers seven areas. In parent terms, these bring together movement, communication, relationships and emotional development with early literacy, mathematics, creative expression and understanding the world. The emphasis is broader than preparation for reading and writing alone.

Come and See adds Catholic religious education to this foundation. Its Explore, Reveal and Respond sequence connects children's experiences with learning about faith and time for reflection. Life to the Full also begins in the early years, teaching relationships and health through a Catholic perspective.

In July 2023, children in the early years followed routines, paid attention to adults and worked cooperatively with other children. Those everyday habits matter when a child is learning to take part in a group.

Settling starts with a home visit by the class teacher before nursery begins, allowing individual needs to be discussed. Children joining with complex needs may have a more detailed meeting involving inclusion specialists or other professionals. This gives families a way to explain their child's needs before classroom life starts.

Communication includes brief conversations with staff, appointments for longer discussions, text and email messages, and the school app. Three parent meetings across the year provide time to discuss settling, progress and the annual report. The pastoral team also discusses vulnerable children, with a pastoral mentor available for family concerns.

Food has several everyday strands. Nursery children receive fresh fruit each day, while foundation stage children have daily milk. Meals are prepared in the school's kitchen, and the dining hall accommodates packed lunches. Families should tell staff about food allergies; meal charges are paid through Schoolgateway, with current charges obtained from the school.

For additional learning needs, the school uses Assess, Plan, Do, Review. Support plans are reviewed termly and parents can contribute to targets. The SENDCo coordinates provision and referrals, including Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy, so classroom support can be linked with specialist advice where needed.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place and does not confer its own admissions priority. Families must make a separate application through their home local authority in the normal admissions round. Treat that application as a distinct task.

For September 2027 entry, the proposed arrangements give a closing date of 15 January 2027. Families seeking consideration under the relevant faith categories are also asked to submit a Supplementary Information Form by that date.

Transition support is a separate matter. Teachers discuss the next intake each July, including children's additional needs, and the SENDCo meets class teachers separately. For complex needs, parents, the outgoing and incoming teachers, and outside professionals may meet together. These arrangements pass on useful knowledge about the child; they do not alter admissions entitlement.

The basic nursery entitlement is 15 hours, with an additional 15 hours for families meeting the eligibility criteria. The half-week patterns are Monday to Wednesday or Wednesday to Friday, each described as 2.5 days. Eligible families can access limited 30-hour places running Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm.

The nursery timetable also gives morning sessions of 9am to noon, Monday to Wednesday, and afternoon sessions of 12.15pm to 3pm, Wednesday to Friday. The application form asks families to choose 15 or 30 hours.

Breakfast care. Nursery children cannot attend the school's breakfast club because of staffing ratios. Families needing an earlier start must account for that restriction.

Foundation stage children are received and collected at their registration room door, using the Infant Playground. Label clothing clearly. Nursery enquiries go to the school office on 0151 526 6423 or admin.stbenedicts@schools.sefton.gov.uk.