St Finbar's Catholic Primary School Nursery Review

Early reading and playing together give St Finbar's nursery its clearest character. This is the nursery at St Finbar's Catholic Primary School on South Hill Road, Liverpool, with funded places for children aged three and four. Children can join after their third birthday.

Ofsted graded the school's early years provision Good at its inspection on 16 and 17 November 2021. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Two attendance patterns shape the day: children on the 15-hour pattern finish before midday, while the 30-hour pattern continues into the afternoon. Both groups go to class at 8.45am, with learning starting at 8.55am. For families, the difference is the collection time rather than the morning start.

Early reading has a clear structure. In November 2021, phonics teaching began from children's entry to early years, and staff training gave adults the knowledge to teach the programme effectively. This puts learning about sounds into the early years experience. Children also played happily with one another, making shared play another concrete part of the picture.

Toilet access continues throughout the nursery day; children do not have to wait for a designated break. That is a useful practical detail for this age group.

Settling starts with some familiarity. The school's Local Offer describes a short visit for the child before starting, alongside a chance for families to look around and meet staff. It gives children an introduction before their first full session.

Assessment of additional needs starts at nursery age, with parents involved early if development raises concerns. The 2025–2026 SEND Information Report describes a cycle of assessing needs, planning support, putting it into practice and reviewing it. Support can involve an individual child or a group. This gives families a process for discussing what their child needs and whether the help should change.

Appointments with the class teacher or SENDCo provide a route for raising concerns. Referrals to SALT, the Speech and Language Therapy Service, and CAMHS require parental consent. The same document describes Zones of Regulation as the school's approach to emotional literacy and mental health; this is a school-wide approach rather than a nursery-only programme.

For physical access, the Local Offer identifies wheelchair access on the ground floor and no lift to the upper floor. Families needing wheelchair access should take that distinction into account.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. The 2027–2028 admission arrangements require nursery families to apply separately through their home local authority. Nursery attendance is not an oversubscription priority in those arrangements.

For September 2027 entry, the closing date is 15 January 2027. Families applying under faith criteria 2 to 6 are also asked to return the Supplementary Information Form with supporting documents by that date. Choosing the nursery therefore leaves a separate application to complete.

Transition support is a different matter. The 2025–2026 SEND Information Report describes planning with the child and family, involving specialist staff where appropriate. A plan may use photographs or transition books to prepare a child for the change. Familiarity helps preparation; it does not determine admission.

The 15-hour nursery pattern ends at 11.50am; the 30-hour pattern ends at 3.10pm. Applications for the funded nursery places go through the school office. A school tour can also be arranged through the office following an enquiry or application.

Collection needs planning. Nursery children are normally collected by a known adult. In unforeseen circumstances, a parent may request one-off collection by a sibling over 16. The induction pack includes forms for authorising collectors. Tell the teacher or office beforehand if arrangements change, and contact the school if delayed. These rules make the handover explicit for both families and staff.