St Bede's Catholic Primary School Nursery Review

Play chosen by children sits alongside learning guided by adults at St Bede's Nursery, with conversation, stories and early number work woven into the sessions. This is the school's own nursery in Clayton Green, Chorley, and children can start in the term after their third birthday. It forms part of the school's Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

The Catholic setting matters to its character. St Bede's links its mission, Love, Learn, Serve, to kindness, respect and helping others. For families, that gives the nursery a faith context as well as a place to begin learning through play.

The EYFS approach combines children's choices with activities led by adults. In everyday language, the focus is on learning to communicate, get along with other children, move confidently and begin exploring books and numbers. Play is the means of practising these skills. Communication and language receive particular attention across the early years.

Indoor learning areas sit alongside outdoor spaces, and early years children learn outside across the seasons. The duckling hatching project gives them a concrete way to explore living things while taking responsibility and developing independence. Exploration, imaginative thinking and active learning are part of the approach, rather than a session built entirely around adult instruction.

In October 2022, early years children developed counting skills through a treasure hunt involving quantities up to 10. Activities indoors and outdoors engaged children and helped them extend their skills. Nursery children also joined in rhymes and stories and practised listening closely to sounds, giving early reading a foundation in language and listening.

Curriculum consistency. In October 2022, the revised curriculum included a clearer sequence of knowledge for early years children, but leaders were still establishing how consistently staff delivered it. The improvement required was rigorous implementation and evaluation of its effect on learning, a useful point for families to keep alongside the positive activity examples.

Stay and Play sessions and a Teddy Bear's Picnic introduce new families to the early years setting. During the first term, parents can attend workshops covering reading, writing and early maths. These give families ways to connect home activities with their child's learning.

Each nursery child has a Learning Journey Journal recording achievements and progress. Parents can look through it at collection, while children revisit their experiences with the class. ParentMail carries school messages and reminders, so communication includes both a personal record of learning and practical updates.

Lunch can be a meal cooked on site or a packed lunch from home. School meals are selected and paid for ahead of time through ParentPay. Nursery children do not qualify for Universal Free School Meals; benefits-based eligibility is a separate possibility. For snacks, families can pay a contribution or send fruit instead.

The SENDCo can be contacted through the school office to discuss a child's needs. Families should also distinguish that contact route from the October 2022 school-wide concern: some teaching did not adapt sufficiently for pupils with SEND, limiting their achievement. That finding was not identified specifically as a nursery issue.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Lancashire's online Local Authority route. Those applying under church criteria must also return a supplementary information form to the school office. Treat choosing nursery and applying for Reception as separate decisions.

Morning sessions run from 8:30am to 11:45am; afternoons run from 12:45pm to 3:15pm. Children can attend either pattern or full days. St Bede's encourages a consistent session pattern to help children feel secure in their routine. Nursery runs in term time only.

Both 15-hour and 30-hour funded places are offered. Extra sessions depend on availability and carry a charge. Breakfast Club runs from 7:30am to 8:30am, with After School Club from 3:15pm to 6:00pm. Club bookings and payments move to ParentPay once a child is registered. Ask the school for current charges for sessions, meals, snacks and clubs.

Nursery uniform combines a pale blue polo shirt, a navy sweatshirt or cardigan bearing the school logo, black jogging pants, shorts or leggings, and sensible Velcro shoes. For nursery enquiries or to arrange a visit, contact the office on 01772 335861 or bursar@st-bedes.lancs.sch.uk.