St Gabriel's Catholic Primary School Nursery Review

Stories, songs and rhymes give St Gabriel's youngest children a language-filled start to school life. This is the preschool provision within St Gabriel's Catholic Primary School in Higher Folds, Leigh, where education begins at age three. Preschool sits within the Foundation Stage team, linking the nursery's organisation to the school's early years provision.

Ofsted judged early years provision Good at the inspection on 24 and 25 September 2024. That judgement covers the school's early years, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Language provides a clear thread through early learning. In September 2024, children shared stories with adults, practised rhymes and sang together from the beginning of their early years education. These are concrete ways for young children to become familiar with words through listening and joining in. Learning starts with participation.

The early years curriculum sets out the skills and knowledge children should develop. In practical parent terms, this means activities have learning purposes alongside enjoyment. Children were enjoying themselves while becoming accustomed to routines and developing a positive approach to learning in September 2024.

Matching activities to children. The September 2024 whole-school improvement action concerned a minority of pupils whose tasks in some subjects needed better adjustment to their needs. Waiting for adult assistance reduced their learning time. This makes the fit between an activity and a child's starting point a useful consideration for families.

Support for additional needs begins in preschool. Identification covers communication, learning, physical or sensory needs, and emotional and social difficulties. The special educational needs coordinator (SENCO) advises class teachers on resources and interventions, monitors their impact and reviews progress with parents, teachers and children each half term. Families therefore have a recurring opportunity to discuss how support is working.

Referrals involve parents too: the SENCO and pastoral services arrange outside-agency support with families and keep them informed about appointments and outcomes. Staff also receive regular child-protection training, with welfare concerns directed to the safeguarding team.

Meals come from a school kitchen operated by MetroFresh, with both cold and hot choices. Live Kitchen allows ordering from home once the office has created an account using a parent's email address. This gives families a practical role in meal selection.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline.

Wigan Council coordinates school admissions, while the governing body acts as this voluntary-aided school's admissions authority and makes application decisions. Use Wigan Council School Admissions for the Reception process. Treat choosing nursery and applying for Reception as two separate decisions, even when the preferred school is the same.

One prospectus timetable puts preschool door opening at 8:45am and morning nursery collection at noon. Afternoon children arrive at 12:05pm, with preschool home time at 3:10pm. Another published prospectus lists morning collection at 11:45am, afternoon arrival at noon and nursery home time at 3:05pm. Confirm the current timetable with the school before arranging childcare or work. These separate collection points matter when fitting a session around work or other children.

Additional nursery sessions are charged by the half day. Nursery school meals are free for children awarded Free School Meals; otherwise a meal charge applies. Contact the school for current charges.

For enquiries, use the contact form or telephone 01942 769712. The school building has one storey and wheelchair access, a concrete accessibility feature for families using the site.