St Vincent de Paul Catholic Primary School Nursery

Full days shape even the part-time offer here: the 15-hour pattern alternates two days one week with three the next. That is a practical distinction for families organising childcare around nursery. St Vincent de Paul Catholic Primary School’s nursery occupies purpose-built accommodation, with indoor and outdoor facilities, at the Catholic school on Pitt Street in Liverpool.

Children can join after turning three, subject to a vacancy. Part-time and full-time places are offered. In Ofsted’s inspection of 21 and 22 May 2024, the school’s early years provision received a Good judgement.

Songs, rhymes and familiar stories give the nursery’s early reading work a concrete shape. Children join in singing and listen to adults read, then recognise characters and discuss them. The emphasis begins in the Nursery class, giving children ways to participate in stories before they can read independently.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the nursery’s early learning framework. A nursery teacher who specialises in EYFS also leads this work, supported by teaching assistants with early years training. Indoor facilities and outdoor space provide both settings for the nursery day.

Curriculum clarity. The May 2024 inspection identified insufficient detail about the sequence of learning in some early years areas. Staff did not have clear enough guidance on the smaller steps children needed to master, limiting how securely learning could build and leaving some children short of preparation for Year 1. For parents, the important distinction is between the specific reading activities and this wider weakness in curriculum planning.

Behaviour expectations include the youngest children. In May 2024, children in early years understood those expectations and behaved well, contributing to an orderly setting for learning.

For a child with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), the school’s Inclusion Policy sets out a cycle of assessing needs, planning support, putting it into practice and reviewing it. Learning Plans or One Page Profiles are used when needed, with termly reviews involving families and children. This gives parents a defined opportunity to discuss whether support needs adjusting.

Physical access matters too. The school’s 2023 Accessibility Plan describes a wheelchair-suitable toilet in the early years area, alongside ramps serving outdoor play areas. The school’s SEND information report also provides for appointments with the class teacher or SENDCo when parents have concerns about development.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place or confer priority. The nursery and Reception applications are separate: families must apply again through the normal local authority process.

For the September 2026 intake, the school’s admissions page gave 15 January 2026 as the deadline for the online application and the supplementary faith paperwork. That deadline has passed. Families seeking consideration under faith criteria also needed to return the relevant supporting evidence to school.

Transition support is a separate matter. The school’s SEND information report describes planning moves between classes with the child and family; where needed, a transition plan may include photographs or transition books. Those arrangements support preparation, rather than admission priority.

The nursery’s 15-hour offer is arranged as alternating weeks of two and three full days. Families using that pattern need to plan across a fortnight. Eligible parents can use the 30-hour provision; enrolment requires their eligibility code and National Insurance number. Parents who do not qualify can pay for additional hours, with current charges obtained from the office.

To enquire about a nursery place, telephone 0151 709 2572. Families can collect an application form from school and arrange a visit to meet the team and see the nursery accommodation. This provides a direct way to discuss an application before committing to the attendance pattern.