The FMS Inspection Score is FindMySchool's proprietary analysis based on official Ofsted and ISI inspection reports. It converts ratings into a standardised 1–10 scale for fair comparison across all schools in England.
Disclaimer: The FMS Inspection Score is an independent analysis by FindMySchool. It is not endorsed by or affiliated with Ofsted or ISI. Always refer to the official Ofsted or ISI report for the full picture of a school’s inspection outcome.
Nursery at St Oswald's Church of England 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Language gives this nursery its direction: stories shape the themes, children revisit ideas in a floor book, and conversation is a deliberate part of learning. St Oswald's Church of England Primary School takes children from age three into its own nursery class in Netherton, Bootle. It sits within a Church of England school with St Oswald's Church next door.
Friendship is the nursery's class value, with prayers forming part of classroom life. Ofsted judged the school's early years provision Good at the inspection on 15 and 16 November 2022. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum covers seven areas of development, giving children experiences beyond literacy and mathematics. Books connect learning to themes that change each half term. Activities at the beginning of a theme let children show what they already know, so staff can adapt what follows to their starting points.
A floor book gives children something concrete to return to as they revisit a topic. Adults use questions to encourage thinking and discussion, while observation helps them adjust learning as children develop. The emphasis is on building vocabulary children can use to explain their ideas.
Phonics begins in the nursery class. In November 2022, language and communication were priorities in early years, but some staff needed further training to teach parts of phonics consistently; this affected a very small number of pupils. That qualification matters alongside the positive early years judgement.
Outdoor activity has practical preparations: children can keep their own wellington boots at school, and families are asked to provide suitable coats and footwear. The nursery also uses dojo points to recognise positive behaviour. Charlie Bear and Baby Bear, its travelling teddies, accompany the weekly award recipient home, giving children adventures to share with classmates.
Children joining early years settled readily in November 2022 and were keen to come to school. Parent relationships begin before children start, while workshops each half term connect families with the EYFS learning taking place. These give parents a way to participate in their child's development.
Language support includes WellComm and the Nuffield Early Language Intervention across early years. Families can contact the SENDCO team through the school office. The school's pastoral team also supports children and families, and a school nurse can be reached through the office, providing routes for discussing wider care and health concerns.
For children attending all day, lunch begins when the morning nursery session finishes at 11.30am. Lunchtime support is part of the nursery team structure.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Sefton admissions, and nursery attendance is not one of the listed oversubscription criteria. Familiarity with the school does not change that allocation process.
The admissions page gives an online route at www.sefton.gov.uk/admissions, with a paper form obtainable from Sefton Admissions Department. Its deadline of 15 January 2026 applied to September 2026 entry and has passed. Families applying for a later intake should follow the deadline for that admissions cycle.
Morning sessions run from 8.30am to 11.30am; afternoons run from 12.15pm to 3.15pm. The 15-hour entitlement operates over 39 weeks. Families can choose mornings, afternoons, or a beginning-of-week pattern covering Monday and Tuesday all day plus Wednesday morning. The alternative covers Wednesday afternoon and full days on Thursday and Friday.
Eligible families with a code can access 30-hour places over four and a half days. Paid wraparound sessions depend on availability, and the beginning- and end-of-week patterns carry an additional charge. Contact the school for current charges.
Breakfast club admits nursery children from 7.45am. Nursery entry is across the junior yard. Label clothing and footwear; shoes with Velcro fastenings help children manage dressing independently. For nursery enquiries, applications or a school tour, contact the office on 0151 525 4580. Applications use a nursery form and the child's birth certificate.
The school aims to admit children as soon as possible after their third birthday. It describes the 15-hour entitlement as beginning in the following term.
Morning sessions are 8.30am to 11.30am, and afternoon sessions are 12.15pm to 3.15pm.
Yes. Eligible families with a code can access 30-hour places arranged over four and a half days. Paid wraparound sessions are offered subject to availability.
No nursery attendance criterion appears in the listed oversubscription arrangements. Attendance does not guarantee a place, and a separate Reception application is required through Sefton admissions.
Early years workshops run each half term and connect parents with the EYFS learning and development taking place.
