Holy Rosary and St Anne's Catholic Primary School Nursery

Two-and-a-half-day patterns give this nursery a practical identity: children can attend for 15 hours, with full-time places also offered under specific funding or payment arrangements. Holy Rosary and St Anne's takes children from age three within its Catholic primary school on Leopold Street, Chapeltown, Leeds.

Early reading and a personal introduction to nursery are concrete features here. Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised provides the phonics approach, while a Stay and Play session and a home visit precede a child's start. For families, that combines a named teaching programme with opportunities to become familiar with nursery before regular attendance begins.

Speaking, listening and early reading have a clear place in learning. Phonics begins in nursery using Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised: children start connecting letters with sounds, alongside an emphasis on developing language. The practical purpose is to build the knowledge children use when learning to read and spell.

In October 2023, Ofsted found that letter-and-sound learning began in the Nursery Year and that early-years reading books were selected to suit children's reading stage. That gives a concrete picture of the reading approach: the books follow the child's developing knowledge rather than assuming everyone is ready for the same text.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) also includes religious learning through Lighting the Path. Children explore other faiths through festivals, following the Leeds Agreed Syllabus. This places their earliest religious learning within the school's Catholic identity while introducing beliefs beyond their own tradition.

Within the wider school, a prayer garden occupies a quiet part of the playground, providing a physical space for reflection. The school aims to use creative play and direct experiences to develop children's understanding of the world, other cultures and faiths.

Settling begins before the first regular session. Every new child has a Stay and Play opportunity to explore the setting and meet other children, and the school arranges a home visit. These are two different introductions: one to nursery itself, the other involving the family at home.

Staffing includes a nursery class teacher and learning support roles within the early-years team. Families seeking help with special educational needs or disabilities can approach their child's class teacher or arrange a conversation with the special educational needs coordinator (SENCO), including by email at sendco@hrsaprimary.co.uk. This gives parents a clear contact route for discussing support.

Safeguarding concerns can be raised directly with a designated safeguarding lead or emailed to headteacher@hrsaprimary.co.uk, including during school holidays.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through their home local authority; Leeds residents use Leeds City Council's application route. Keep that application separate from nursery attendance.

For September 2026 entry, the application deadline was 15 January 2026. Applicants using faith criteria also needed to send the school a Supplementary Information Form by that deadline, alongside the local-authority application. That cycle is now past.

Nursery opens from 8:45am to 3:30pm, Monday to Friday during term time. The 15-hour arrangement spans two-and-a-half days, with examples of Monday and Tuesday plus Wednesday morning, or Wednesday afternoon followed by Thursday and Friday. These blocks matter when matching childcare to work or study.

Full-time places are offered for working parents with a 30-hour code, student parents whose college funds attendance, and families paying for extra days. Additional sessions depend on availability and suitability; contact the school for current charges.

To arrange a nursery tour or discuss an application, email admissions@hrsaprimary.co.uk. Visits are arranged individually with the headteacher, giving families an opportunity to see the nursery and wider school and ask questions.