St. Joseph's Infant School Nursery Review

Den building, gardening and baking give St Joseph's nursery its practical character. Children aged 2 to 4 years 11 months learn through play, with their own outdoor area and Forest School adding space for exploration beyond indoor activities. This is the nursery provision at St. Joseph's Infant School in central Chichester, on Orchard Street.

The infant and junior schools occupy one site. For nursery families, the immediate focus is early learning: making things, talking, sharing stories and exploring the world through direct experience.

Play carries the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum here. In parent terms, activities combine learning with doing: construction invites children to work out how things fit together, while imaginative role play gives them opportunities to communicate and try out ideas. Sensory activities and art add different materials and ways to express themselves.

Stories, movement and music sit alongside science activities. Baking and gardening bring practical tasks into the mix, giving children things to investigate and opportunities to work together. The early years curriculum places emphasis on vocabulary and communication, and uses children's interests to shape learning. Little Wandle is the named phonics programme within the school and nursery's early years approach.

Outdoors has a distinct place in the day. The dedicated nursery outdoor area supports physical activity and exploring nature; Forest School adds den making, wildlife discovery and learning about seasonal changes and plants among trees. These are concrete opportunities to investigate the natural world rather than encounter it only through pictures. Nursery trips also take children into the local Chichester area.

There is an important reading caveat. At the ungraded Ofsted inspection on 9 November 2023, early years pupils enjoyed exploring letter sounds, but phonics delivery was inconsistent and checks failed to catch and resolve misunderstandings effectively. That makes the delivery of early reading a consideration alongside the activities and programme name.

Emotional learning is part of the early years curriculum: staff teach strategies for handling feelings and developing confidence. The nursery's Forest School sessions are supervised by trained staff, with risk assessments used to plan activities.

Support for additional needs sits within the school's SEND provision. The SEND team works with other staff to adapt teaching approaches and provide extra support for children with identified needs. Early years language support includes children with SEND and those learning English as an additional language. For families, this connects communication development with the wider support team. SEND enquiries can go to senco@stjosephsinfant.school.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process. The route is West Sussex County Council's school admissions service at www.westsussex.gov.uk/school-places. Choosing the nursery and applying for school are separate decisions.

Nursery tours can be booked directly. Contact nursery@stjosephsinfant.school or telephone 01243 978062 to arrange a visit. The nursery is at Orchard Street, Chichester, PO19 1DQ; the school office can also be reached on 01243 783709 or office@stjosephsinfant.school.

A tour offers a practical opportunity to consider the indoor activities, dedicated outdoor area and Forest School approach together when deciding whether this nursery suits your child.