St Mary's Catholic Primary School Nursery Review

Three-hour sessions and outdoor learning give this nursery its practical shape. At St Mary's Catholic Primary School on Greenfield Road in Gillingham, children can join the nursery class from the term after turning three, subject to a place being available. The regular pattern is five morning or five afternoon sessions across the school year.

Catholic identity shapes the wider setting: the school aims to make faith, respect and independence part of children's education. At the inspection on 25 and 26 April 2023, Ofsted graded early years provision Good. That judgement covers the school's early years, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Morning nursery runs from 8:30am to 11:30am; afternoons run from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. Each gives families a defined three-hour block. The nursery also offers 30-hour placements, extending the choice beyond the regular part-time pattern.

Early reading is part of learning from the early years onwards. In April 2023, children followed a structured phonics programme and practised with books matched to familiar sounds. The practical connection is clear: learning sounds and using them in books belong together.

Outdoor learning uses the wider school's grounds. Forest School has den-building equipment, a tepee, seating made from logs and a fire pit. Elsewhere, a vegetable garden and nature trail provide settings for exploring plants and seasonal changes. The school gives every child regular opportunities to learn outdoors, making the grounds part of education rather than simply somewhere to play.

From the start of nursery, staff observe children's development and maintain detailed records. They share that information with parents throughout the year. This gives families an ongoing picture of their child's learning, rather than relying only on an end-of-year account.

For additional needs, the school's SENCo and Inclusion Lead can be contacted through the office or at senco@stmarysrcp.medway.sch.uk. The school aims to work with families to address children's needs and remove obstacles to learning. Its Home-School Support Worker also helps families with parenting, behaviour and difficulties at home, providing another route for discussing issues that may affect a child.

Safeguarding procedures apply across the school. Staff receive annual child protection training alongside weekly and termly updates, and concerns must be passed to the designated safeguarding lead. Prescribed medicine needed during school hours goes to the office with a completed medication form; it must be labelled clearly and remain in date.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application, including those whose child already attends this nursery. The route combines a local authority application with the Medway Catholic Schools Supplementary Information Form, which goes back to the school.

For the 2026/27 entry cycle, the application deadline was 15 January 2026. That date has passed. Treat choosing nursery and applying for Reception as separate decisions, with a further application required for the school place.

The regular booking pattern is five part-time sessions each week during the school year. A nursery application form is required, and places depend on availability. Enquiries about 30-hour placements go through the school office, reached on 01634 855783 or office@stmarysrcp.medway.sch.uk. Visits can also be arranged through the office.

Nursery clothing consists of trainers, royal blue tracksuit bottoms and a sweatshirt in the same colour, with a plain white T-shirt or polo shirt. The sweatshirt logo is optional. This is a separate nursery uniform, so families should use that clothing list when preparing for their child's start.