St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (Hertford) Nursery

Bible stories explored through play give this nursery a distinctly Catholic character. Nursery children can engage with those stories through activity, bringing the school's faith into their early learning rather than leaving it solely to formal religious teaching.

The provision belongs to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School on North Road in Hertford. Its early learning follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), with children's interests helping to shape what they explore.

Play is the starting point. Activities are planned around children's curiosity, and learning involves exploration, movement and thinking creatively, both outside and indoors. This gives children different ways to engage with a subject: being active matters alongside developing ideas.

The EYFS has seven connected areas. Communication and language, social and emotional development, and physical development come first. For parents, that means early education gives attention to how children communicate, relate to others and develop physically, alongside their introduction to more recognisable subjects.

Literacy and mathematics sit alongside expressive arts and design and understanding the world. These areas are connected rather than treated as entirely separate strands. Planning around children's interests gives their curiosity a role in the learning, while the framework keeps its scope broad.

Stories have a place here too. In November 2024, Ofsted found that enjoyment of listening to stories began in Nursery, with children developing their understanding of texts and their interest in reading. Bible stories through play add a specifically Catholic strand to that experience.

For concerns about additional needs, the class teacher is the first point of contact. Parents can discuss the support their child receives, then speak with the SENDCO or headteacher for a fuller conversation about their needs. This gives families a clear route for raising questions about support.

Consistency of SEND support. In November 2024, some support across the school lacked precision, and teaching strategies and adaptations were not consistently effective for some pupils. This was a school-wide concern, rather than a nursery-specific finding. Families whose children need additional help should give close attention to how agreed strategies translate into everyday support.

Safeguarding responsibilities are shared across the headteacher, deputy head, assistant head and SENCo, each holding a designated safeguarding lead role.

A nursery place does not guarantee a Reception place at St Joseph's. Families must make a separate application, including the Hertfordshire County Council application and a Supplementary Information Form for the school. A Certificate of Catholic Practice is also required where applicable.

Treat this as a fresh admissions step when planning your child's next year. For September 2026 entry, the online Reception application deadline was 15 January 2026. That deadline belongs to a past admissions cycle.

Nursery enquiries go through the school office on 01992 583 148 or diary@stjosephs255.herts.sch.uk. Correspondence is answered between 8.30am and 4pm, Monday to Friday during term time.

School tours require an appointment, with a maximum of two adults per family. Telephone the office to check tour availability. Parents can use Childcare Choices to check eligibility for 30 hours of free childcare and obtain an eligibility code; eligibility checking is a separate step from securing a nursery place.