St Aidan's Catholic Primary Academy Nursery Review

Outdoor learning continues in wet weather at St Aidan's nursery, with a purpose-built outdoor area available throughout the day. Play and children's own interests shape the provision, while the Catholic ethos includes learning about other religions and cultural celebrations.

This is the nursery class within St Aidan's Catholic Primary Academy in Seven Kings, Ilford. Afternoon sessions cater for rising threes, alongside morning and full-day provision. Ofsted judged the school's early years provision Good at the inspection on 21 and 22 September 2022; that judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Children have substantial time to choose their own activities. In the Moment Planning means adults observe what interests a child, consider their development and respond during the activity itself. Children select materials, learn how to use them and put them away afterwards. Independence gets practical exercise.

Group activities punctuate this freedom around the beginning and end of sessions and before lunch. Stories and songs sit alongside maths and phonics. Read Write Inc is the school's phonics programme, and phonics begins in nursery, introducing children to language and letter sounds.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework. Development Matters helps organise experiences around movement, communication and social development, alongside early literacy, maths, creative expression and discovering the world. In parent terms, learning happens through play and everyday experiences, with adults observing progress and deciding what to introduce next.

Indoors, children can use tables or floor space, alone or in small groups. Labels on resources help them find materials independently. The outdoor learning area extends those choices beyond the building. Baking, food tasting and messy exploration feature among the experiences, while weekly trips to the ICT suite and school library connect nursery life with the wider school.

Separation can take time. For children who find settling difficult, staff may agree an individual transition plan with parents, allowing time to become familiar with their nursery teachers. In September 2022, children across early years settled promptly and became familiar with routines, while staff assessed their development skilfully.

Tapestry gives parents access to photographs and observations of learning, and families can contribute observations from home. Each Friday, three to five children are chosen for closer attention the following week. Their parents share current interests, family events and questions, giving staff useful context for conversations and activities.

A fruit snack is provided during the morning. Full-day children can bring a packed lunch and eat inside the nursery building. Qualified first aiders provide basic first aid; parents should disclose medical conditions before their child starts so an individual care plan can be prepared.

The nursery encourages children to start toilet trained and asks that they attend without nappies or pull-ups. Staff change children after accidents, with spare named clothing kept in a PE bag. For SEND concerns, parents can approach the class teacher or SENDCo. Support follows an assess, plan, do and review cycle, with parents involved in reviewing individual education plans each term.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Redbridge's primary admissions route and meet the normal deadline. Once a school place is confirmed, parents contact the office for registration forms. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as separate decisions.

Morning sessions run from 8.45am to 11.45am; full days finish at 3.15pm after the same start time. Both operate five days a week. Afternoon provision for rising threes adds another session option.

Information is provided about the government-funded 15- and 30-hour entitlements. Lunchtime supervision carries an extra charge for every full-day child, including those using funded hours. Privately paid full-day sessions require advance booking and payment, and charges remain payable for absence. Contact the school for current charges.

Uniform consists of a blue logo polo shirt and maroon logo sweatshirt, black jogging bottoms and black trainers or plimsolls with Velcro. Jewellery and toys from home should stay at home.

For a nursery application, contact the office on 0208 590 5223. School tours can also be booked through the office, giving families an opportunity to see the setting before choosing it.