St Alban's Catholic Primary and Nursery School: Nursery Review

Seasonal discoveries outdoors and a snack table children can use throughout the day give Easby Nursery its own character within St Alban's Catholic Primary and Nursery School in Denaby Main. The nursery cares for children from age two, within a Catholic school that welcomes families of any faith and none. Easby has a class teacher and a support team: a nursery class within the school, with its own routines and learning programme.

Early years provision was graded Good at the Ofsted inspection on 17 to 18 June 2025. That judgement covers the school's early years provision rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Play, movement and exploration shape learning indoors and outdoors. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together seven connected areas of development, and Easby uses Development Matters to guide its planning. For the youngest children, the starting points are learning to communicate, developing physical skills and building relationships and emotional understanding. Literacy, number, creativity and discovering the world grow from those foundations.

Adventures in Learning gives topics a shared theme. During the autumn immersion week in the 2025–2026 cycle, children explored their classroom and outdoor surroundings while becoming familiar with staff and classmates. Learning about senses, body parts and healthy choices connected the topic to looking after themselves. Outdoor investigations followed autumn changes through leaves, temperature and colour. These are concrete experiences children can talk about, rather than ideas encountered only through pictures.

Mathemagician Time uses rhymes, songs and repeated everyday actions to practise early mathematical ideas. Nursery geography starts with observing nature and the local area, comparing lives in different countries and using simple maps. A dedicated reading area gives children somewhere to share books with an adult or explore them independently.

In June 2025, the early years curriculum combined purposeful activities and resources with a strong emphasis on language. Building vocabulary was helping children develop foundations for reading, although the effect on readiness for their next educational stage was still emerging.

During the autumn immersion week in 2025–2026, children became familiar with classmates and staff and explored the indoor and outdoor learning spaces. School Spider carries announcements and news to parents, giving families a way to keep up with school life.

Fresh fruit, milk and water are offered at the snack table across the day. Children should bring a water bottle each day, labelled with their name. The table makes refreshments part of the everyday routine rather than a single fixed snack break.

Families can contact the school's SEND coordinator about additional needs. Individual support. In June 2025, school-wide improvement actions included making SEND adaptations more precise and helping staff apply new teaching methods consistently. These were school-wide concerns, so families should discuss how support will be tailored to their child rather than assume they describe Easby's practice. Safeguarding arrangements were effective at that inspection.

Attending Easby Nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process; Doncaster Council provides the online application route. Keep that application separate from arranging nursery attendance.

Transition is a summer-term focus within Adventures in Learning. It sits alongside the child's learning programme and should be understood as preparation for the next stage, rather than an admissions advantage.

Easby's opening hours are 8:55am to 3:25pm. Nursery enquiries can be made throughout the year through the school, with enquiries for 15-hour or 30-hour places. Call the office on 01709 862298 or email admin@st-albans.doncaster.sch.uk. Prospective parents can arrange a visit.

Rise and Shine and after-school care are available on school opening days for children aged three upwards. After-school care has flexible finishing times, with provision extending to 5:45pm; children staying for the later club receive snacks. Book through ParentPay by 3pm on the preceding day. Charges apply, including additional charges for late bookings, cancellations, arrivals or collections; contact the school for current charges.

For wraparound care, an adult must hand the child to staff at the gated entrance in the morning, and collection is a handover to a known adult at the gate. Label belongings, and children attending nursery on Friday afternoons should arrive in PE clothing.