St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Crewe: Nursery Review

Wellie Wednesday Walk brings the school grounds into nursery learning at St Mary's. Alongside early phonics and practical, play-based activities, it gives children a starting point for exploring the world beyond their classroom.

The nursery forms part of this Catholic primary school, where provision begins at age three. Its admission number for 2026–2027 is 52 children, with 26 places per session. Catholic teaching and practice shape school life, so families should be comfortable with that faith context. Ofsted graded early years provision Good following the inspection on 27 and 28 June 2023; this is an early-years judgement within the school's inspection.

Exploration is part of the learning itself. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) organises learning into seven areas rather than separate school subjects. Here, its practical expression includes handling objects to investigate numbers and quantities, and experimenting with textures and materials in creative activities. Children can try ideas through play rather than encounter concepts only as an adult explanation.

Specific mathematical and creative areas support those activities in everyday learning. The art curriculum describes opportunities to discover how materials fit together, giving children something concrete to investigate and make. Outside, Wellie Wednesday Walk uses the school grounds as a setting for nursery fieldwork. Observing and discussing the natural environment connects learning to things children can examine themselves.

Early reading also starts in nursery. In June 2023, children were beginning the phonics programme and learning connections between letters and sounds. That introduces an explicit reading strand alongside practical exploration.

Settling begins before the September start. A welcome meeting lets parents of new nursery children see the classrooms and learn about their child's introductory visits. Children are encouraged to join a summer-term stay and play session, giving them an opportunity to become familiar with the setting beforehand.

For concerns about additional needs, the class teacher is the first contact, with the SENDCo accessible through the school office. The school's SEND arrangements include discussions with families about support and specialist advice where needed. SEND Support Plans are reviewed with parents at least termly, keeping families involved in decisions about their child. Monthly coffee mornings for SEND parents provide another opportunity to discuss concerns and receive guidance.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through their home local authority. Under the approved 2026–2027 admission arrangements, attending nursery gives no Reception admissions priority: allocation follows the listed oversubscription criteria.

For September 2026 entry, the application deadline was 15 January 2026. The consultation document for 2027–2028 gives 15 January 2027 as the next cycle's deadline; that document should be treated as provisional. These are separate admissions decisions, so choosing the nursery should rest on the nursery experience itself.

Nursery enquiries use a Nursery Enquiry Form, obtained through the school office or the website's Virtual Office section and returned to the school. Tours can be requested, including an opportunity for families of children with disabilities to discuss their needs before applying.

Accessibility and collection. On-site collection and drop-off are restricted to disabled badge holders, with permits and allocated times. Disabled toilets are located in the Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 buildings and the Smart Mobile; changing facilities are in the Key Stage 1 building. Families needing these facilities should consider their location when planning care arrangements.