St Mary's School Nursery Review

Outdoor challenges, music and foreign languages gave the early years at St Mary's School a distinctive mix in November 2023. The nursery belongs to an independent girls' school on Packhorse Road in Gerrards Cross, whose entry age starts at three. In November 2023, the early years provision included one nursery class.

In November 2023, the nursery class shared a separate building with Reception. That gives the youngest children a physical base within the wider school. In November 2023, early years children progressed well, with activities adapted to their interests and needs. This is an early years finding, rather than a separate nursery grade.

Individual interests helped shape the learning observed in November 2023. Within the early years programme, activities addressed children's developmental needs as well as different areas of learning. Children had several ways to participate and express themselves.

Music and modern foreign languages brought specialist teachers into that programme. Alongside these, outdoor learning introduced different challenges, and some staff had outdoor education training. For parents, the useful distinction was the combination: children's learning included specialist input and experiences outside the classroom.

Speaking and listening receive attention too. In November 2023, early years children developed the confidence to contribute to discussions and explain their views. These are practical skills for joining in with other children and making their needs understood. Progress extended across the early years curriculum.

In November 2023, staff training and regular supervision meetings supported care in the early years. Parents received detailed information, and concerns were dealt with quickly. Those arrangements gave families a way to raise difficulties while staff reviewed how they met children's needs.

Emotional development was part of the support observed at that inspection. In November 2023, staff helped children think about other people and regulate their feelings, while early years leaders took action to reduce risks to wellbeing. Accessibility had also been a priority in new early years classrooms, making the physical environment relevant to inclusion as well as learning.

The November 2023 findings also covered practical responses when children were hurt or needed medicine. Early years staff contacted parents promptly following accidents; prescribed medication was supported by a qualified staff member. A safeguarding lead with an early years specialism provided a further layer of responsibility.

Safeguarding oversight. In November 2023, governors' oversight did not cover internet filtering and monitoring, although appropriate systems were operating. By the November 2024 material change visit, governors were regularly testing those procedures. That later visit also highlighted a school-wide attendance-policy publication lapse and a limitation in the central oversight of completed health and safety checks. In November 2023, inspectors also called for checks on teaching consistency across all levels in personal and social education, with relationships and sex education included. These are school-wide matters relevant to families considering its nursery.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet the applicable deadline. Choosing the nursery should therefore be a decision about the child's early years experience, with the next admission treated separately.

The shared early years building provides a physical connection between the classes. It should not be read as an admissions entitlement.

The school is on Packhorse Road, Gerrards Cross, SL9 8JQ. Its telephone number is 01753 883370, providing a direct contact route for nursery enquiries.