St Margaret Mary's Catholic Infant School Nursery

Play, paint and learning about other languages give this nursery its character. Children can join in the term after turning three, subject to a place being available. Two nursery classes sit within the school's Foundation Stage, with both full-time and part-time attendance options. This is nursery provision within a Catholic infant school on Pilch Lane, rather than a separate childcare setting.

The practical choice is between five morning sessions, five afternoon sessions or a full-time pattern. That gives families distinct ways to fit nursery into their week, while keeping children within the school's early-years provision.

Play provides the starting point for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum. Children develop communication, physical skills and relationships alongside early literacy, mathematics, creative work and understanding their surroundings. Religious education uses To Know You More Clearly, giving the learning a Catholic context.

Within the nursery's religious education programme, teachers bring children together for an introduction, adults guide activities with smaller groups, and children also learn through their own choices across the provision. There is room for both shared learning and individual exploration. Paint, collage materials and tools for making marks are accessible each day in the early years, so creative activity extends beyond a single planned art lesson.

Language celebrations supply concrete examples of what children do. Nursery children have made and eaten pizzas while listening to Italian music for Mother Language Day; another example is singing Frere Jacques for European Day of Languages. These activities connect unfamiliar words and cultures with food, sound and participation.

In November 2024, Ofsted identified a sequenced curriculum extending into the early years, alongside support for speech and communication through signing and adults demonstrating vocabulary and sentence patterns. For nursery children, this places learning to communicate alongside the other things they are learning through play.

Settling begins before the first session. The nursery teacher arranges a home visit and talks with a child's previous setting about their needs. For children with complex needs or disabilities, preparations include risk assessments and relevant staff training, with additional visits where needed. This gives families opportunities to share information before their child starts.

Class teachers carry pastoral responsibility, supported by the Learning Mentor and school leadership. Across the school, teachers hold teaching degrees and teaching assistants have assistant qualifications. Parents can raise developmental concerns with the class teacher or SENCo; children with Play Plans have reviews involving parents at least once each term. The school draws on advice from the Knowsley EYFS SEND advisor and speech and language therapists.

Daily food routines include a fruit or vegetable portion, milk for early-years children and a healthy snack. A contribution is requested towards snacks through PARENTPAY; contact the school for current charges. Children are encouraged to bring a water bottle; bottles should be clear with a safety top and contain only plain water. Snacks from home are not permitted.

Physical care facilities include an accessible toilet with a shower and a changing station. The Foundation Stage can be reached from the playground, a useful access route for families with mobility needs.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through their home local authority. The 2027/2028 admission arrangements do not give priority for attending nursery.

For September 2027 entry, the application deadline is 15 January 2027. Families seeking consideration under faith criteria 2 to 6 should also return the Supplementary Information Form and supporting documents to the school office by that date.

Transition preparation is separate from allocation. Children have at least two summer-term visits to their future class and teacher, while staff discuss individual needs with previous settings. These visits help children become familiar with the next stage; they do not secure admission.

The nursery offers 15-hour provision as Monday-to-Friday mornings, 8.30am to 11.30am, or afternoons, 12.15pm to 3.15pm. The full-time option is labelled 30-hour provision and runs Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 3.15pm. These are the nursery's own times, so plan collection around the chosen session.

For enquiries, contact the school office on 0151 477 8815. Prospective parent visits are welcomed. Only adults authorised by the parent or carer should collect a child, and the office must be told when the collection arrangements change.