Le Cateau Community Primary School Nursery

Songs, rhymes and stories give Le Cateau’s nursery day its clearest character. Language comes first, with daily opportunities to listen and join in. The provision sits within Le Cateau Community Primary School in Catterick Garrison, where the building includes a Foundation Stage unit.

There are two distinct starting points: Caterpillars, a governor-led unit with 15 places for two-year-olds, and Foundation Stage 1 (FS1), which admits children from their third birthday when space permits. This separates the younger children’s provision from the nursery stage. Ofsted graded early years provision Good at the inspection on 28 and 29 September 2022; that judgement covers the school’s early years rather than a separately inspected nursery.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the nursery’s curriculum framework. Here, its language work includes singing, learning rhymes and hearing stories each day. Read Write Inc is the named approach used from Nursery for phonics and early reading. For parents, the practical emphasis is on children becoming familiar with spoken language and books before the next stage of school.

During summer term, nursery teaching introduces letter sounds as preparation for the move onwards. In September 2022, children were well prepared for that move. This gives the daily songs and stories a clear next step, while keeping the preparation within the nursery year.

The wider school site includes three playgrounds, a large playing field and a Forest School area, alongside an allotment and space for chickens. These are features of the school grounds. The Foundation Stage unit places the nursery within that larger physical setting.

Caterpillars has two-year-old key worker roles, while FS1 has teaching staff and teaching assistants. An Early Years Leader forms part of the team structure. At school level, an Inclusion Lead and assistant SENDCO roles provide named points of responsibility for inclusion and special educational needs and disabilities.

Lunch fits around the longer attendance pattern. Children using the nursery’s 30-hour places can bring food from home or have a charged school meal. NYES Catering prepares meals on site, with a rotating three-week menu and three food choices each day. Dietary guidance is also provided. Packed-lunch pupils eat with their peers in the school hall, making lunch a shared part of the day.

For family updates, KIT (Keeping In Touch) goes out each Thursday through Arbor. That gives parents a regular rhythm for school information alongside the nursery’s teaching and care arrangements.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through North Yorkshire Council’s online route, following the normal Reception application timetable. Choosing nursery and applying for full-time school are separate decisions.

Teaching preparation is a different matter from admission. Introducing letter sounds during the nursery summer term supports the move into the next stage of learning; it does not secure a school place.

FS1’s 15-hour provision is arranged as morning sessions from 8:45am to 11:45am or afternoons from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. Funding starts in the term after the child’s third birthday. A number of 30-hour places are available under the working parent entitlement, with attendance from 8:45am to 3:30pm.

For two-year-olds attending for 30 hours, the day runs from 8:30am to 3:30pm. Children with a FRAS code attend from 8:45am to 11:45am, with additional lunch and afternoon sessions available to purchase. Ask the admissions coordinator about places and the school about current charges.

FS1 clothing includes a red logo sweatshirt, white polo shirt and black joggers, with black practical shoes or trainers. The clothing choices allow for the physical side of early learning. FS1 children can also attend Breakfast Club and PT Childcare’s after-school care, which operates in the school hall. Admission enquiries begin with the school office on 01748 832292 or admin@le-cateau.n-yorks.sch.uk.