St John's CofE (C) Primary School Nursery Review

Sixteen places, a shared early years class and play built around books give this nursery its character. Children can join from their third birthday at St John's CofE (C) Primary School, on Wombourne Road in Swindon. The nursery is on the school site, with Nursery and Reception grouped together in Class 1. That puts the youngest children within school life from the start.

Ofsted judged the school's early years provision Good at the inspection on 6 and 7 December 2022. This is an early years judgement within the school inspection, rather than a separate nursery rating.

Books give children a voice in the day. In December 2022, early years children chose between two stories through a daily vote, accepting the group's decision even when their favourite lost. Staff made storytelling engaging. The activity combined listening with a small, practical lesson in making choices together.

Indoor and outdoor play also required cooperation. Children worked together to move tyres and construct an imaginary chimney for Santa. Elsewhere, leaves became pretend biscuit ingredients, with children sharing the shovelling and moving them by wheelbarrow. These were opportunities to talk, negotiate turns and solve practical problems together. The early years foundation stage (EYFS) had a recognisable shape: learning through stories, play and relationships.

Class 1 topics include Africa, Space and On The Farm, giving families concrete themes around which learning is organised. The nursery-age phonics phase focuses on listening, songs, nursery rhymes and books. Children practise hearing and combining spoken sounds; matching sounds to written letters is not expected at this stage. The emphasis is on ears and voices before print.

The team includes a nursery nurse and teaching assistants, while an early years teaching role sits within the school staff. The headteacher also holds the special educational needs coordinator role. The school aims for children to participate equally in school life, giving inclusion a clear place in its stated approach.

Communication has several routes. Class updates at the beginning of each term outline learning, while Friday emails cover events, photographs and diary reminders. Teachers2Parents also carries dates. For families, that combines a view of the learning themes with practical reminders.

Food is included in the additional childcare sessions: Breakfast Club serves cereal, toast and fruit juice, while After School Club provides a drink and snack.

Sharing Class 1 with Reception gives nursery children experience of the same early years grouping. That classroom connection is separate from securing a school place.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee Reception admission and is not one of the listed oversubscription priorities. Families must make a separate Reception application to Staffordshire County Council through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. Being part of the nursery class therefore does not replace the application. The distinction matters even when a child already knows the setting and its routines.

Nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 9:00am to 3:00pm. Children can also attend Breakfast Club, running from 7:45am to 8:45am, and After School Club, from 3:15pm to 5:00pm. Club places are booked through the school office. If work or traffic delays collection, parents can telephone to arrange an After School Club stay. Ask the school for current club charges.

A school polo shirt and St John's sweatshirt are encouraged for nursery children; Abbiss's in Wombourne supplies them. Sports clothing can be worn on PE day, and clothing should be labelled to help return misplaced items.

Visits can be arranged through the school office. Contact office@st-johns-swindon.staffs.sch.uk or telephone 01384 273865 to book an appointment.