St Augustine's Catholic Primary School Nursery Review

Listening, sharing and learning through sound give this nursery its character. At St Augustine's Catholic Primary School in Hoddesdon, nursery children belong to the school's Early Years provision, within a Catholic setting. The school says it places great importance on kindness, respect and service. Faith is part of the learning, rather than simply a label attached to the school.

The nursery's classroom expectations are concrete: children practise taking turns, helping classmates and caring for their surroundings. These are useful foundations for joining a group and becoming more independent. A morning session sits alongside a longer pattern for children attending for 30 hours, giving families two different shapes to the nursery day.

Daily phonics begins with listening. The nursery uses Twinkl Phonics, with separate teaching focused on Phase 1: children learn to distinguish sounds in their surroundings, sounds made by instruments and other sounds they hear. This makes the starting point understandable for parents: listening and recognising differences come before more advanced work with letters. Children begin Phase 2 sound recognition when ready.

Literacy and maths have nursery-specific learning plans. Creation Art and a recommended reading list add further named elements, while songs include Lullaby and Innkeeper's Song. Together, these give families concrete ways to connect with classroom learning through books, music and creative work.

Catholic learning also takes a recognisably nursery form. In 2024–2025, examples included a display of children's baptism possessions and child-initiated learning about baptism. Across the school, each classroom has a prayer table holding prayers, pictures and reflections. That gives faith a physical place in the learning environment.

Sharing and safe behaviour are taught in everyday language. Nursery expectations include listening attentively, using hands and feet kindly, and helping to keep the classroom orderly. The emphasis is on actions young children can practise, rather than abstract rules.

Lunch offers a choice. Nursery children can have a charged school meal, with Aspens operating a menu that rotates over three weeks; alternatively, children may bring lunch from home. Those eating packed lunches sit with friends having school meals and receive the same supervision. Families can therefore choose the food arrangement while keeping the social part of lunchtime.

For children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), the school's approach includes learning scaffolds and additional help, with more individual support for some children. Safeguarding responsibilities include an Early Years lead among the deputy child protection leads, and staff receive training in child protection procedures.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process.

For the September 2026/27 entry cycle, applications went through Hertfordshire County Council, with a Supplementary Information Form also sent directly to the school. Both had a deadline of 15 January 2026. That deadline has passed; it should not be treated as the deadline for a later intake.

Morning nursery runs from 8:40am to 11:40am. Children on the 30-hour pattern continue from 11:40am until 2:40pm, making the longer day distinct from the morning session.

Families whose children are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare can pay for additional sessions. These require advance booking and advance invoicing, with payment through Arbor. Contact the school for current charges. Nursery enquiries can be made through the contact form, by telephone on 01992 463549 or by email at admin@staugustines.herts.sch.uk.