The FMS Inspection Score is FindMySchool's proprietary analysis based on official Ofsted and ISI inspection reports. It converts ratings into a standardised 1–10 scale for fair comparison across all schools in England.
Disclaimer: The FMS Inspection Score is an independent analysis by FindMySchool. It is not endorsed by or affiliated with Ofsted or ISI. Always refer to the official Ofsted or ISI report for the full picture of a school’s inspection outcome.
Nursery at St Mary and St Peter Catholic Primary School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Five-minute introductions to sounds sit alongside construction and exploratory play here. St Mary and St Peter’s nursery belongs to the Catholic primary school on East Anglian Way in Gorleston. Children can join in the term following their third birthday, and the nursery keeps a waiting list.
Provision follows the school calendar, covering 38 weeks each year. This is a nursery organised around school terms, so families needing holiday childcare must plan around that pattern. Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good at its inspection on 4 and 5 October 2022; that judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.
Adult-guided learning and time to explore both featured in the early years in October 2022. Staff used questions and close observation to extend children’s talk. Construction offered a practical lesson in persistence: children rebuilt a large dinosaur after it collapsed. Learning involved trying again, as well as getting something right.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) takes shape through these experiences of language, play and personal development. Read Write Inc begins in nursery, with initial sounds introduced when appropriate in sessions lasting five minutes. That qualification matters: the introduction is timed to children’s readiness. Talk for Writing also starts in EYFS, using patterns in texts and performance to develop spoken language. Early years history includes discussing familiar scenes from the past and comparing story characters, giving children concrete starting points for understanding change.
Outdoor provision includes a woodland area shared by nursery and Reception. Fairy gates made by the Art Club have been placed there, adding a story-related detail to the space. An EYFS outdoor learning area has also hosted a stay-and-play event for children and parents.
Curriculum continuity. In October 2022, some subjects needed clearer planning of early years concepts and vocabulary so later teaching could build on them. Families should weigh that specific improvement point alongside the positive findings about early years activities and language development.
Morning sessions have a nursery teacher with supporting staff; qualified support staff lead afternoons. The distinction gives parents a clear picture of who leads each part of the day. In October 2022, adults’ calm and considerate example helped early years children feel able to persevere after setbacks.
For additional needs, the school has a SENCO, a designated SEN teaching assistant and pastoral support. SEND parent evenings take place each term, providing a regular opportunity to discuss progress. Parents should raise initial concerns with their child’s class teacher. The school uses the Thrive Approach for social and emotional support, through class, group or individual work as needed.
Hot lunches are available for nursery children as a charged extra. Meals are ordered through Select by 7:30am on the day they are needed. A packed lunch is an alternative; families must supply utensils and avoid glass containers or cans.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Norfolk County Council’s normal admissions process, including children already attending this nursery. Completing the school’s supplementary form alone does not count as a valid application.
The shared nursery and Reception woodland area is a connection between the two stages. Familiar surroundings and admission entitlement are separate matters: parents still need to complete the Reception application.
Monday to Friday, mornings run from 8:30am to 11:30am and afternoons from 11:30am to 3:00pm. Funded provision operates over 38 weeks, with entitlement of 15 or 30 hours a week as applicable. Funding excludes meals, consumables, extra hours and additional services. Ask the school for current charges.
Registration requires evidence of the child’s date of birth, and families must return an Early Education Funding form each term. No deposit, registration fee or top-up fee is required for a nursery place. Enquiries go through the school office on 01493 445117 or the nursery Form of Interest.
Breakfast Club can accommodate nursery children on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Book through Wisepay by noon on the preceding Friday for the following week. This offers an earlier start on those days, with advance booking essential.
Children can attend from the term after their third birthday. The nursery holds a waiting list.
Morning sessions run from 8:30am to 11:30am, and afternoon sessions from 11:30am to 3:00pm, Monday to Friday during school term time.
Yes. The nursery offers funded provision over 38 weeks, with 15 or 30 hours a week as applicable. Meals, consumables, additional hours and extra services fall outside that funding.
No. A separate application through Norfolk County Council is required, including for children who already attend the nursery. The school’s supplementary form alone is not a valid application.
Nursery hot meals are charged separately and must be ordered through Select by 7:30am that day. Children may bring a packed lunch instead, with their own utensils and no cans or glass containers.
