St John the Evangelist Catholic Primary Nursery

A class tea shop turns pretend food and drink orders into language practice in St John the Evangelist’s early years. It is a concrete example of learning through play, with conversation serving a purpose children can understand. In April 2025, early-years children developed their vocabulary through this role-play and focused work in small groups.

The nursery belongs to St John the Evangelist Catholic Primary in Kidsgrove, where the school’s starting age is three. Catholic faith shapes the school’s identity, and parents are asked to respect that ethos.

Independence is part of the early-years learning experience. In April 2025, children could choose and use learning materials for themselves, and the arrangement of the environment helped them learn successfully. For a young child, that means practising how to get started with an activity rather than relying on an adult for each step.

At the inspection on 8 and 9 April 2025, language work combined focused adult support with imaginative activity. The class tea shop gave children a reason to speak, listen and use vocabulary while playing a part. Small-group work also helped children who had arrived with speech and language difficulties. These examples showed how early learning connected communication with something children actually did.

Movement has its own place in the early-years curriculum. Physical education lessons use themes connected to classroom topics, linking physical development with other learning. The school aims to help children enjoy an active life; its early-years approach starts with fundamental movement skills.

Care was a strength of the early-years provision in April 2025: children received attentive support, and their learning progressed well. Speech and vocabulary support was successful, including for children who started with communication difficulties. That matters for families whose child needs help joining conversations and expressing themselves.

An EYFS leader also holds a Foundation Class teaching role. The school has a special educational needs co-ordinator, contactable through office@stjohnskidsgrove.org.uk, giving families a route for discussing additional needs.

SEND support. The April 2025 findings also raised a school-wide concern: changes to the curriculum did not consistently help some pupils with SEND achieve as intended. This was a finding about the school overall, rather than a specific nursery judgement. Families considering additional support should weigh that concern alongside the positive early-years language findings.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the deadline for their child’s entry year. Treat choosing nursery and applying for Reception as two separate decisions; attending nursery should never be taken as confirmation of a later school place.

The school is on Gloucester Road, Kidsgrove, ST7 1EL. Nursery enquiries can go to the school office at office@stjohnskidsgrove.org.uk. This provides a direct contact when making an initial enquiry about joining.