St Ambrose Catholic Primary Nursery Review

Nursery rhymes, sound games and a choice of morning, afternoon or all-day sessions give St Ambrose’s nursery its practical character. This is the nursery class within St Ambrose Catholic Primary on Leswell Street in Kidderminster, with a nursery teacher and its own class email contact. Families of all backgrounds are welcome.

The school’s early years provision received a Good judgement at the Ofsted inspection of 15 and 16 November 2022. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Language provides a clear thread through the learning. In November 2022, early years staff gave communication close attention, using stories to extend children’s vocabulary and teaching early reading with suitable materials. For parents, the emphasis is on children hearing, understanding and using words as they begin to learn about reading.

Fred Talk gives families a concrete way to support that work. Adults separate a word into sounds, then encourage children to put those sounds together. Fred says combines this with actions; Fred I spy uses colours and pointing. Singing nursery rhymes also forms part of the nursery’s approach to phonics. These are simple ways to make listening practice playful.

Oxford Owl provides ebooks for reading at home. Suggested writing activities include making labels for household objects and practising a child’s name, giving early writing a familiar purpose.

Physical development has its own home-learning suggestions. Crab and frog movements sit alongside smaller hand tasks: linking paper clips, lifting pasta with tweezers, and threading string through holes in card. The activities address different movements, from using the whole body to handling small objects. The nursery also has an outdoor area.

A nursery teacher leads the class, and parents can contact the nursery directly at nursery_amb@emmausmac.com. That gives families a class-specific route for questions and communication.

In November 2022, staff identified additional needs promptly when children began early years. This matters for families whose child may need extra help: recognising a difficulty early is the starting point for arranging support.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place and confers no admissions priority. Parents must make a separate application, with nursery children considered against the same criteria as other applicants. Choose the nursery for the experience itself; keep the Reception application as a separate task.

For September 2027 entry, apply through the local authority where you live, naming St Ambrose Catholic Primary. The deadline is 15 January 2027. A Supplementary Information Form must also reach the school by that date. Completing the school form alone does not complete the application, so families need to manage both parts.

Morning sessions run from 08:45 to 11:45; afternoons run from 12:15 to 15:15. The all-day option runs from 08:45 to 14:45, with an extra half-hour option from 14:45 to 15:15. The different finishing times matter when planning collection.

Before-school and after-school care is offered through Bee Hive. Nursery funding spaces are available. To enquire about the nursery, check session availability or arrange a visit, call the school office on 01562 823568.