St Christophers Academy Nursery

Two rooms give younger children and those approaching school age separate bases at St Christophers Academy Nursery. Children can join from age 2 and stay until they start school. Preschoolers preparing for school the following September occupy one room; two-year-olds and younger three-year-olds use the other. That makes the age grouping a defining feature of the provision.

The nursery sits within St Christophers Academy on Gorham Way in Dunstable. Ofsted graded the school's early years provision Good following its inspection on 4 and 5 February 2025. This is an early years judgement within the school inspection.

Play and conversation shape the early years learning described in February 2025. Adults planned activities that encouraged curiosity, giving children opportunities to learn through play. Their involvement mattered: staff joined children's play and introduced vocabulary, using those exchanges to understand what children knew and help them take the next step.

Stories, rhymes and songs provided preparation for reading. For parents, this gives a concrete picture of early learning: listening to language, exploring words and talking with adults, rather than reading preparation being confined to formal tasks. Books also formed the basis of the curriculum across the early years.

Matching activities to children. In February 2025, some tasks and resources needed better adaptation. Children requiring extra help were not always enabled to succeed, while those ready to explore further were not always sufficiently challenged. The practical issue is whether an activity gives each child an appropriate next step, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Before children start, the school encourages a visit and a short discussion with their class teacher. Families can share information about their child at this meeting; children with SEND are encouraged to make additional visits if needed. This gives staff a way to plan support around the child before the start date.

For children with SEND, parents meet the class teacher at least once each term to discuss needs, progress and support. A provision map records the planned help, and a home-school communication book can be introduced when required. The SENCo oversees SEND provision across the school. Staff training includes Lift off to Language for Foundation Stage children, adding a named language programme to the support arrangements.

Food is included in the wraparound routine. Breakfast club serves cereals alongside toast and fruit; after-school care provides a light snack that includes fruit. These arrangements matter for children whose nursery day extends into the club sessions.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place at St Christophers Academy. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the applicable deadline. Treat choosing nursery and applying for Reception as separate decisions, even though both concern the same school.

The nursery operates Monday to Friday, during term time, from 8:45am to 3:15pm. Wraparound care is offered to nursery children when required, covering the period from 7:45am to 6pm. That allows families to combine the nursery day with care before and afterwards.

Club bookings use Magic booking. After-school care can also be booked in split sessions: 3:15pm to 4:30pm and 4:30pm to 6pm. For nursery enquiries or to arrange a visit, call 01582 500960. The wider school site has wheelchair access, ramps where needed and an accessible toilet, relevant physical features for families considering access.