St George's Catholic Primary School Nursery Review

Outdoor movement and practical learning give St George's nursery its character. Children spend substantial time outside practising coordination and control, and learn through hands-on experiences and experimentation. This is the school's own nursery in Maghull, housed in a purpose-built nursery building and forming part of its Foundation Stage.

Catholic teaching is part of the curriculum from nursery onwards. Families choosing this provision are choosing that religious context alongside learning through practical experience and play.

Play involves decisions, experimentation and working with other children. Children help plan their play, collaborate and practise supporting one another. Adults observe alongside them and use those observations to extend concentration, language and physical development. The implication is a day in which children's choices help shape learning, rather than adults supplying every next step.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework, with Development Matters guidance supporting its implementation. In parent language, learning includes communication, movement, relationships, early literacy and mathematics. Activities develop both larger movements and the smaller hand movements needed for later writing. Outdoor time gives children repeated opportunities to practise bodily control and coordination.

Planning follows half-term blocks but is adjusted for each group. Staff also review play behaviours each term to help shape provision. This gives repeated practice a place alongside new experiences, allowing children time to consolidate skills.

Ofsted's January 2023 inspection described nursery children enjoying stories, experimenting with word sounds and joining in nursery rhymes. Early-years children also behaved well at that time. These are useful signs of engagement with both language and the shared routines of learning.

For religious education, the 2025-2026 curriculum listed To Know You More Clearly for nursery. Its themes included Creation and Covenant and Dialogue and Encounter, explored through age-appropriate activities and Bible passages. Faith therefore has a planned place in children's learning.

A daily snack is provided, with a donation requested at the beginning of each half term towards its cost. Contact the school for the current contribution. For communication, the nursery team aims to share photographs and updates through Class Dojo and Instagram, giving parents a way to follow classroom experiences.

Concerns about special educational needs or disabilities should go first to the child's class teacher, rather than wait for a parent meeting. The school's SEND coordinator can offer further advice, with appointments arranged through the office. That provides a clear first contact and a route to additional support.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route by the normal deadline. Treat this as a distinct application, rather than an automatic continuation of the nursery place.

There is a social connection between the classes: Reception children describe looking after their nursery friends as part of the Early Years group. That relationship is separate from the decision about allocating school places.

Visits can be arranged through the school office. The nursery welcomes families to see its practice, making a visit a useful way to get a feel for the provision before choosing it. Call 0151 288 6630 to make contact.

The address is Dennett Close, Maghull, Liverpool, L31 5PD. For family calendar planning, the school has a two-week half-term break in May and June and asks families to keep holidays within school holiday periods.