Holy Cross Catholic Primary School Nursery Review

Powder paint and puddles give Holy Cross nursery a concrete introduction to learning through experiment. Children combine colours and see the results for themselves. This is the nursery provision within Holy Cross Catholic Primary School on Fontenoy Street, Liverpool, with the Catholic identity of the wider school forming its setting.

The clearest features of the nursery experience are practical exploration, early reading and attention to children’s developing language.

Colour mixing turns an outdoor opportunity into an art activity. Nursery children have used powder paint in puddles, discovering green by combining blue with yellow, and orange by combining red with yellow. The activity gives children something tangible to investigate: changing the ingredients changes the result. It also supplies a reason to talk about what they notice.

Reading begins in the nursery year. Ofsted’s inspection on 30 and 31 March 2023 also identified an emphasis on language from the early years, supporting children’s vocabulary development. For parents, these are complementary strands: hands-on activity gives children experiences to discuss, while the attention to language supports how they express themselves.

Consideration for others starts early. In March 2023, nursery children were learning to use their hands, feet and words kindly. That makes expectations concrete for young children, connecting behaviour to actions they can recognise.

The SEND policy sets out an early years process for responding to developmental concerns. Staff are expected to notice emerging difficulties, hear parents’ concerns and track children’s development. Support follows a cycle of assessment, planning, action and review. Parents must be informed when additional educational provision is introduced, giving families a place in decisions about their child’s support.

Across the school, specialist advice is recorded in personalised Learning Passports, including the resources and strategies to use. Speech and language therapy and Occupational Therapy are among the services the school works with. For children receiving SEND support, the policy provides for three parent meetings each year with the class teacher, supported by the SENCo. These meetings create regular opportunities to review goals and progress together.

Attending Holy Cross nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Nursery admission and Reception admission are separate: families must make a fresh Reception application through the normal admissions route by the applicable deadline. Treat that application as a separate task when planning your child’s next step.

For children with an Education, Health and Care plan, the SEND policy provides for the plan to be updated ahead of a change of educational phase so that support can be arranged. This is preparation for the child’s needs, rather than an admissions entitlement arising from nursery attendance.

Nursery uniform combines a red Holy Cross sweatshirt with a navy polo shirt and navy sweatpants; footwear is black pumps with Velcro fastenings, worn with socks. Label clothing with your child’s name. The uniform guidance also directs families needing help with purchases to the school office.

Send nursery enquiries to office@holycrossprimaryschool.co.uk, or telephone 0151 236 9505. Queries are passed to the appropriate staff member, giving families one initial contact point. The contact page also has an enquiry form. For SEND discussions, the school provides a separate email address, send@holycrossprimaryschool.co.uk, so concerns about additional needs can be directed to the relevant team.