St Modwen's Catholic Primary School Nursery

Creativity and independence give St Modwen’s Nursery its stated direction: children are encouraged to explore ideas, choose challenges and learn alongside one another. The nursery belongs to St Modwen's Catholic Primary School in Horninglow, Burton-on-Trent, a Roman Catholic school on Tutbury Road.

The nursery aims for a calm atmosphere in which children feel safe and take an active interest in learning. Its emphasis is on effort as well as achievement. For parents, that sets out a recognisable philosophy: giving children room to try things for themselves while encouraging consideration for other people.

Activities with no single prescribed outcome are part of the nursery’s approach to creativity. The nursery says children can express individual ideas through these activities and the resources they use. The intended benefit is choice: children have opportunities to develop their own responses rather than simply reproduce an adult’s example.

Working together has an explicit place too. Children are encouraged to exchange ideas, tackle problems together and offer help. The nursery also aims to teach them to question one another respectfully. This puts social learning alongside individual exploration, with listening and cooperation part of the intended experience.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework for early education. It covers children’s learning, development, safety and welfare. Learning includes language and communication, movement, relationships and emotions, alongside early mathematics, literacy, creative expression and understanding the world. For families, the scope matters: early education extends beyond preparation for reading and counting.

Praise for children’s efforts and achievements forms part of the nursery’s stated approach. Its aim is to encourage curiosity and the confidence to attempt challenges, including when children need to persevere.

Across the school, additional provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is provided when needed. The school aims to take account of both the child’s needs and parents’ wishes wherever possible, and to educate children alongside their peers, with extra adult support where necessary. Families can contact the special educational needs coordinator (SENCO) at senco@st-modwens.staffs.sch.uk. That gives parents a direct contact for discussing support.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the relevant deadline. Staffordshire County Council’s primary admissions service is the route for information about that process; the school’s admissions officer can discuss admission arrangements at admissions@st-modwens.staffs.sch.uk.

Treat the nursery choice and the Reception application as separate decisions. Choosing this early education provision does not remove the need to apply again for school entry.

A nursery tour can be arranged through the School Office on 01283 247560. Nursery enquiries and application forms go to admissions@st-modwens.staffs.sch.uk. Applications require a copy of the child’s birth certificate, plus a baptism certificate if applicable.

For funded education, the nursery directs families to Staffordshire’s information for three- and four-year-olds and to eligibility information for 30 hours childcare. Eligibility is the key distinction: the reference to 30 hours should not be read as an entitlement for every family.