St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Preschool Review

Two three-hour sessions, with a lunch break between them, give St Joseph's preschool a clear morning-and-afternoon rhythm. This is the school's own preschool provision on Priory Road in Chalfont St Peter. In May 2025, it catered for two-year-olds, placing younger children within a Catholic primary school setting.

Catholic identity matters here. The school welcomes families of other faiths who are prepared to support its Catholic ethos and aims. For parents, that makes the religious character part of the choice from the outset.

The morning session runs from 8.45am to 11.45am. Lunch occupies the next half-hour, from 11.45am to 12.15pm, before the afternoon session begins. That second session ends at 3.15pm. Each teaching session lasts three hours, giving families two distinct blocks around which to organise their day.

Learning sits within the school's stated ambition to encourage exploration, creativity and physical activity. St Joseph's aims to give children confidence to attempt unfamiliar things and opportunities to discover their interests. These are the school's educational aims, rather than a judgement of nursery teaching.

Preschool staffing includes teaching and assistant roles. Families also have separate school contacts for inclusion and safeguarding, so a question about additional support can go directly to the appropriate team rather than remaining a general office enquiry.

The school describes its approach to special educational needs and disabilities as centred on the individual child. It identifies adapting teaching, additional adult help and working with specialist professionals as parts of that approach. Partnership with families is another stated priority. For a parent considering preschool, this gives a practical starting point for discussing how their child's needs fit into school life.

Inclusion enquiries go to senco@stjosephschalfont.school; safeguarding concerns have a dedicated contact at dsl@stjosephschalfont.school.

Attending the preschool does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process, with Buckinghamshire Council as the application route, and meet the applicable deadline. Treat choosing preschool and applying for Reception as two separate decisions; attendance should never be taken as an assurance of a later place.

Preschool funding application routes include universal funding for three- and four-year-olds and working-parent funding. These are distinct application categories, so families should use the category relevant to their circumstances.

For enquiries, contact the school office at office@stjosephschalfont.school or call 01753 887743. The address is Priory Road, Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire, SL9 8SB.

School tours begin at 9.15am and take an hour. Booking uses an enquiry form that asks families to identify whether they are considering preschool, Reception or an in-year transfer, and to give their intended starting date. Selecting preschool makes the purpose of the enquiry clear before the visit.