St Joan of Arc RC Primary School Nursery

First sounds, first friendships and learning to treat others fairly: these are the early-years foundations at St Joan of Arc. The nursery takes children from age three and belongs to the Catholic primary school on Northolme Road in Highbury. Its identity is therefore tied to a school community, rather than a separate childcare provider.

Respect, courage, service and love shape the school's Catholic life. For a family choosing the nursery, that faith context is part of the choice alongside the practical shape of the day.

Early reading starts with sounds. At the January 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that children in early years were encouraged to learn sounds and develop an interest in reading. The emphasis is on becoming interested and familiar, giving young children a starting point for later reading rather than making reading solely a task to complete.

Learning also has a social dimension. In January 2024, early-years children were learning how to make friends and act fairly towards one another. Those experiences matter in a group setting: learning to get along is part of the child's day, alongside developing an interest in books and sounds.

Positive attitudes to learning were evident from early years in January 2024. This gives parents a useful focus when considering the provision: children's willingness to engage matters alongside what they are learning.

Friendship and fairness provide a concrete starting point for understanding the nursery's approach to relationships. They connect everyday interactions with the school's emphasis on respect, making social learning part of the provision rather than an incidental benefit of being around other children.

The Celebrating Difference booklist includes an Early Years and KS1 selection. Titles include Meesha Makes Friends and Leo and the Octopus. For parents, these are specific reading resources to explore alongside conversations about friendship and difference; the list should not be read as a timetable of nursery activities.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place at St Joan of Arc. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the applicable deadline. Choosing the nursery and applying for a school place are distinct decisions.

Keep that distinction in mind when planning ahead. A child becoming familiar with the school community does not itself secure admission to Reception.

The school offers an opening window of 8.15am to 5.45pm for children from Nursery through to Year 6. The school day finishes at 3pm, after which parents can choose clubs and classes led by qualified staff familiar with the children. That extended window is relevant to families fitting care around work.

School visits can be booked through the admissions section, which also provides nursery application forms. The online calendar has a Nursery filter and can be synced to a phone calendar, giving families a way to keep relevant school dates together.