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Nursery at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Hartlepool
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
A Jack-in-the-Box became a history lesson for early years children in November 2023. At that inspection, children explored the toy’s place in the past and used what they remembered in a later activity. The provision caters for three- and four-year-olds within a Catholic primary school.
In November 2023, Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating. The nursery says it aims to help children become independent and confident through play.
Children’s interests influence what happens next. In November 2023, staff developed further activities around children’s fascination with a Jack-in-the-Box, an example of a toy from the past. Children subsequently brought that earlier knowledge into another task. The useful point for parents is the connection between exploring an object and remembering what it teaches.
Outdoor learning had a deliberate physical-development purpose, while the early years learning environment supported children’s knowledge and interaction with others. The EYFS garden is also the nursery’s entrance route, making it a specific part of the setting’s everyday geography.
At the November 2023 inspection, children began learning sounds from the summer term of Nursery. Alongside the activities shaped by children’s interests, this introduced the building blocks of reading. In November 2023, children across early years were making good progress.
Settling begins with contact between home and school. The school’s entry arrangements include a meeting with parents or a home visit, alongside information to help families prepare children for school routines. For new children already known to have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), the SENCo meets parents before entry to discuss concerns and possible solutions.
Early years staff are expected to respond promptly to emerging developmental difficulties and listen to parents’ concerns. The SENCo coordinates additional provision, and parents are informed when their child receives it. This gives families a defined route for raising concerns rather than leaving them to guess whom to approach.
Support follows Assess, Plan, Do, Review: identify the need, agree support, put it into practice and check progress. Parents of children with SEND are invited into school each term, allowing support to be discussed and adjusted with them.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place and does not confer priority under the September 2026 entry arrangements. Families must make a separate application through their home local authority using its Common Application Form. Familiarity with the school does not replace that application.
For September 2026 entry, the deadline was 15 January 2026. That cycle is now past. Where applications exceed places, the admissions criteria determine allocation, with Catholic children receiving priority. Parents should therefore treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as separate decisions.
The current nursery pattern is a morning session, running from 8.50am to 11.50am. Those times matter when fitting attendance around work or another child’s school day.
Access is from the end of Tower Street, through the gate beside the small barrier and then the EYFS entrance. Children are collected from the entrance they use to enter school. Parking. Families must keep the school car park clear at drop-off and collection; plan the journey around the surrounding streets instead.
For nursery enquiries, contact the school office on 01429 272747 or email admin@stjosephshartlepool.bhcet.org.uk.
The nursery caters for three- and four-year-olds.
The current morning session runs from 8.50am to 11.50am.
No. Nursery attendance does not guarantee a place. A separate application must be made through the home local authority.
At the November 2023 inspection, children began learning sounds from the summer term of Nursery.
Speak to your child’s teacher or contact the SENCo through the school office. Early years staff are expected to listen to parents’ developmental concerns and respond to emerging difficulties.
