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Nursery at St Andrew's Church of England Primary School
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Story stones, homemade playdough and an outdoor performance stage give this nursery its character. At St Andrew's Church of England Primary School in Kettering, stories become starting points for talking, making and moving, with resources children can choose for themselves. The nursery adjoins a Reception classroom, bringing the next stage of school physically close.
Ofsted judged the school's early years provision Good at the inspection on 17 and 18 May 2023. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery. In May 2023, children participated enthusiastically, and language development received particular attention.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together communication, physical development, relationships and early learning. Here, those strands meet through play and books. Talk 4 Writing uses actions and pictures to help children retell stories; story stones and a talking table give them further ways to try out words and sequences. Daily Phase 1 phonics activities introduce early sound work, while library books go home for families to share.
Numbers have practical uses. Children count the group during registration, explore measuring equipment and follow picture recipes to make playdough. Sharing it out creates opportunities to count and compare quantities. Dice games add another route into number play, with small group work for children needing support.
Movement gets deliberate attention through yoga, Jump Start Johnny and Kinetic Letters activities. Children devise obstacle courses and tackle their own physical challenges. Outdoors, crawling, swinging and painting on a large scale develop bigger movements; daily finger gym activities exercise finer hand control.
An outdoor stage, dressing-up resources and instruments support singing and imaginative performance. Children also mix paint, build models with loose parts and grow vegetables, connecting creative exploration with conversations about plants and health. Accessible resources and picture timetables help them make choices and understand routines.
Settling begins with a home visit and opportunities for parents and children to play alongside staff. Children then try brief periods apart from their parents when staff consider them ready. This makes the starting point the child's confidence, with separation introduced in manageable steps.
Daily conversations continue that relationship. Tapestry, the online learning journal, carries nursery challenges and lets families contribute photographs and videos of learning at home. Parents can also join singing and story activities, giving them familiar material to enjoy together afterwards.
Chatterway supports language assessment and small group help. Sign language and PEC books provide additional ways to communicate. The nursery team includes two early years teaching assistants and a higher level teaching assistant; parents with concerns about additional needs can contact the school's special educational needs coordinator early.
Some nursery children remain for school lunch. The school's caterer is The Pantry, with meals ordered through a parent account before the school's ordering cut-off. Families using lunch should build that ordering step into their routine.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the local authority where they live, with a deadline of 15 January. Familiarity with the school should be kept separate from the allocation of a place.
Transition does provide useful preparation. Reception staff get to know nursery children through visits, which become more frequent in summer. Children spend short periods in the adjoining classroom for play or stories. Two transition days in July begin with parents joining in, followed by a short session apart; staff also discuss individual needs together.
Morning sessions run from 8:30am to 11:30am, and afternoons from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. A full day ends at 2:30pm after an 8:30am start; adding twilight extends it to 3:30pm. Those different finishing times matter when arranging collection.
Collection charges. Collection outside registered hours can attract a late fee, with thresholds varying by session. Ask the school for current charges and contact the office if an emergency disrupts collection.
For nursery enquiries, call 01536 512581 or email office@standrews.pdet.org.uk. The school is on Grafton Street, Kettering, NN16 9DF.
Mornings are 8:30am to 11:30am and afternoons 12:30pm to 3:30pm. Full days run from 8:30am to 2:30pm, or to 3:30pm with twilight.
Staff conduct home visits and offer stay and play sessions with parents. Children begin short sessions apart when staff consider them confident enough.
Activities include swinging, crawling, large-scale painting and imaginative performance using a stage, instruments and dressing-up resources.
No. A separate Reception application must go through the local authority where the child lives, by 15 January.
Daily conversations and Tapestry connect home and nursery. Parents can share photographs and videos of learning at home and join singing and story activities.
