St Bernard's Nursery Review

Stories, conversation and learning to get along with others give St Bernard's nursery its clearest character. The provision belongs to St Bernard's Roman Catholic Primary & Nursery School in Ellesmere Port, with children able to start from the age of two. This is a nursery class within a Catholic school, giving families an early introduction to that school's setting and ethos.

Opened in 2023, the nursery was described in the March 2025 inspection as giving children care that helped them feel secure and settled. The useful detail is the emphasis on social development and spoken language: these are foundations for participating in a classroom, as well as learning alongside other children.

Listening to stories and developing social skills are concrete parts of nursery learning here. Adults demonstrate spoken language for children, giving them examples to learn from as their own conversation develops. In March 2025, these experiences were helping nursery children approach the next stage of school with confidence. The emphasis is on communication and relationships.

The wider school's curriculum takes a thematic approach, linking learning through topics it calls Connectors. Reading has a prominent place across that curriculum. For nursery families, the story listening described above gives a specific example of how an interest in books begins before children move on to formal reading instruction.

Creativity also has a named place in the school's approach: five creative habits for learning run through its curriculum. St Bernard's aims to help children become learners who can make choices and work both independently and with others. Its wider curriculum themes include conservation and social justice. These describe the educational context surrounding the nursery, rather than a timetable of activities for its youngest children.

Feeling settled matters before a child can join confidently in learning. In March 2025, nursery care helped children feel secure, while opportunities to develop social skills supported their relationships with others. Care and learning were closely connected in these nursery findings.

For special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the school's support structure brings together a SEND coordinator, class teachers and other agencies. This gives families a coordination point for discussing provision where their child needs additional support. The school also aims to make participation inclusive and to challenge discrimination.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal school admissions process. Applications are handled centrally by Cheshire West and Chester's local authority admissions service, with decisions made by the school's governing body under its admission arrangements.

The application route is www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/admissions, or the Local Authority Admissions Team on 03001237039. Keep this application separate from the decision to attend nursery: familiarity with school life and an allocated Reception place are different matters.

The school is on Sherbourne Road, Ellesmere Port, CH65 5EW. Nursery enquiries can go through the school office on 0151 355 2047 or by email to admin@stbernards.cheshire.sch.uk.

Visits can be arranged through the office, with a member of the leadership team showing families around. That gives parents an opportunity to consider the school setting in which the nursery operates before choosing it.