First Steps Nursery at St Mary's Catholic Primary School

Cooking, outdoor discoveries and stories give First Steps Nursery its character. Children aged 2–4 have spacious indoor learning areas and a large outdoor area enclosed by fencing at St Mary's Catholic Primary School in Jarrow. The two-year-old provision accommodates up to 16 children; older nursery children can access 30-hour provision. Families of any faith, or none, are welcome.

Early years provision was graded Good within the school's Ofsted inspection on 3 and 4 July 2023. That judgement covers the school's early years, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) shapes learning here. In parent terms, this brings together learning to communicate, move and manage relationships with early reading, number work, creativity and understanding the world. Themes organise learning across the year, giving children connected experiences rather than isolated activities.

Cooking makes that approach tangible. In spring 2025, a weekly cooking activity linked to the focus book or topic, with children making porridge, pancakes, fruit kebabs and cookies. These are practical encounters with food alongside the stories and ideas being explored. An animal visit that spring brought children close to giant snails, snakes and owls, giving them living examples to investigate.

Outdoors, learning has included pouring and scooping at a potion station, counting with foam Numicon pieces and practising numeral writing at a creative station. The Forest School area has also hosted Yellow group's digging, tree climbing and mud-kitchen play. Collected bark, leaves and sticks became pictures and patterns, then materials for crowns back in nursery. Outdoor activity connects movement, making and early mathematics.

In July 2023, early years children enjoyed explaining their learning, including comparisons between the seaside today and in the past. There was also a concern affecting the school's earliest readers: their books did not consistently match their sound knowledge, limiting reading confidence and fluency. That is a relevant caution alongside the early years judgement.

A nursery teacher who also leads EYFS works with a support team that includes a higher-level teaching assistant. Tapestry connects home and nursery: parents receive their login in the welcome pack, can see snapshots of their child's day and contribute experiences from home. Parents have also joined a storytelling session, sharing books and making bookmarks with their children. Communication includes participation, as well as updates.

For children attending the 30-hour provision, school lunch is charged separately. Chadwick's Kitchen prepares food daily from fresh ingredients, and medical diets are arranged with parents. This gives families a route to coordinate dietary care with the catering team.

SEND support includes access to Portage and the preschool service, alongside speech and language support. Families can meet the school SEND team at coffee mornings on the last Thursday of each month, with advance notices sent through Arbor. These provide a regular opportunity to discuss support.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through South Tyneside Council's normal admissions route. For September 2026 entry, the deadline was 4:30pm on 15 January 2026; that admissions cycle is now past.

The school's transition arrangements include time with the new teacher and learning environment. Extra visits can be arranged when needed, and photo booklets can help children prepare at home. Familiarity and preparation are useful support for a move, separate from the allocation of a place.

Morning sessions run from 8:45am to 11:45am; afternoons are 12:45pm to 3:45pm. Both 15-hour and 30-hour provision are offered, with full-day sessions for children accessing 30 hours. Flexible hours are also offered. The choice lets families consider a shorter session or full-day attendance.

Wraparound care spans 8am to 6pm, and places must be booked through the school office. For enquiries or to arrange a visit, call 0191 489 8336 or email office@stmarysjarrow.co.uk. Refer to the school for current charges, including lunch for the 30-hour provision.