Nursery at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Gilesgate

Learning begins in Nursery as part of a curriculum planned across the school. That connection gives St Joseph's nursery its defining character: the first stage of a school education within a Catholic setting in Gilesgate, Durham.

Opened in September 2022, the nursery takes children from the term following their third birthday. St Joseph's welcomes nursery applications from across its community. The school says its values centre on forgiveness, love and tolerance, with children from different cultures and backgrounds welcomed and valued.

Curriculum planning links Nursery learning with the stages that follow. The school works with Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust to organise that progression, giving early learning a place in a longer sequence rather than treating it as an isolated stage.

At the January 2025 inspection, children in the early years were judged ready for their next educational step. This provides a useful indication of preparation, rather than a separate nursery grade.

Teaching adaptation. In January 2025, some teaching across the school did not match pupils' needs consistently: work could be overly difficult, and prolonged listening affected concentration. These were school-wide concerns, so they should not be presented as findings specifically about nursery sessions.

Attendance. In January 2025, irregular attendance among some disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND across the school meant they missed important learning. The school was asked to keep addressing low attendance. Families should discuss attendance support where needed; this was a school-wide concern, not a nursery-specific judgement.

A cluster SENDCo and an inclusion manager form part of the school's support structure. For families with concerns about their child's development, the school offers appointments to discuss special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). That gives parents a direct route to discuss individual requirements.

Support covers several distinct areas. Communication needs include speech and language difficulties and autism; learning needs include difficulties of differing levels of complexity. Emotional or social needs that affect learning also receive consideration, alongside sensory needs and physical disabilities. These distinctions matter because a child's need for support can extend beyond learning tasks.

St Joseph's says it aims to reduce obstacles to learning through early help and collaboration with other agencies. Families can also access the Durham Local Offer for information about services supporting children and young people with SEND.

Regular electronic newsletters and letters keep parents informed about school decisions, events and children's achievements. These provide a school-level connection for families alongside discussions about their own child.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process, using the online Local Authority Common Application Form by Durham County Council's closing date. Treat that application as a separate task even when your child already attends nursery.

Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan follow a different admissions process. Parents complete Durham County Council's parental preference form, and a request for a particular school is considered alongside the child's assessed needs.

Nursery applications can be submitted after a child's second birthday; forms come from the school office. Applying and starting are different milestones, with entry beginning from the term after the third birthday.

For nursery enquiries, contact the office on 0191 386 5611 or email stjd@stjd.bwcet.com. The school's term dates differ from Durham County Council's calendar, so use St Joseph's dates when planning family arrangements. Paper copies can be requested by email.