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Nursery at St Bede's Catholic Primary School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Counting objects, investigating worms and joining in prayer give St Bede's nursery its character: practical early learning within a Catholic school. On Thornton Road in Clapham Park, this is the nursery provision of St Bede's Catholic Primary School. Its 2025/26 SEND information report gives nursery capacity as 39 full-time-equivalent places. That is a capacity measure, rather than a class headcount.
The 2025/26 admission arrangements describe September entry for children who reach three by the end of September, with four-year-olds also considered in nursery oversubscription rules. Catholic teaching shapes school life, including classroom prayer spaces. Families are choosing a faith-based start as well as childcare.
Learning takes practical forms. The nursery mathematics plan includes recognising small groups of objects at sight, matching quantities to written numbers up to five, and choosing shapes for construction. Children also compare amounts and explore repeating patterns. These activities connect early mathematical language with things children can handle and arrange.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the curriculum framework. St Bede's describes a creative approach built around projects, with the surrounding community and outdoor environment used for learning. Its nursery computing plan focuses on investigating how things function, while the early-years PE programme includes dance, gymnastics and ball-handling activities. Development includes movement and exploration alongside number work.
Examples from spring 2025 make that approach tangible. Early-years children explored sand in contrasting conditions, used bikes and climbing equipment, and worked with the story Yucky Worms. In May 2025, they investigated worms beneath woodchip and assembled a habitat in a plastic container with natural materials. These are early-years examples, rather than activities attributed exclusively to nursery children.
At Ofsted's ungraded visit in March 2023, nursery children had representation on the school council, and children across early years practised combinations of numbers making ten. The youngest early-years children also learned practical safety habits, including crossing roads and keeping an adult involved when opening the front door.
Getting to know a child starts with the Class Entry Profile. Parents are asked about previous settling experiences, favourite activities, comfort objects and family circumstances, alongside health, developmental concerns and dietary restrictions. This gives the early-years team practical information to discuss before a child starts.
For children joining with identified SEND, visits can include meeting the adult who will work with the family. Where other professionals are involved, a joint meeting brings together needs and strategies; changes to settling arrangements may be agreed there. Teachers and teaching assistants work as a class team, with SEND plans reviewed with parents each term. The school also has playground and hall ramps, plus adapted toilet and shower facilities.
Lunch needs planning at home. Children attending nursery full time bring a packed lunch in a labelled container. Nuts and nut-containing foods are prohibited, as are sweets, chocolate, fizzy drinks and glass bottles. The entry paperwork also requests parental permission for toileting assistance and help with changing soiled clothing.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. The 2025/26 admission arrangements require separate applications and give no Reception priority for attending nursery. Parents apply through their home local authority using its common application form, by the deadline specified on that form. A supplementary school form supports assessment against the school's criteria; without it, the application falls into the general applicant category.
For children with SEND changing classes, transition includes sharing support records and a planning meeting with the next teacher. Parents are invited to meet that teacher where possible. This supports continuity of care; it does not change admission entitlement.
Funding guidance describes the universal 15-hour entitlement and the eligibility-code process for 30 hours, including reconfirmation every three months. Meals, consumables and additional activities sit outside the funded-hours offer; this guidance does not establish particular nursery charges.
The nursery uniform list specifies a bottle-green nursery sweatshirt and a yellow nursery polo shirt. Enquiries go to office@stbedes.uk or 020 8674 7292. For collection, the entry profile asks who will normally bring and collect the child, allowing families to identify those arrangements before starting.
No. The 2025/26 arrangements require a separate application and give no Reception priority for nursery attendance.
They bring a packed lunch in a labelled container. Nuts and foods containing nuts are prohibited, along with sweets, chocolate, fizzy drinks and glass bottles.
The nursery list specifies a bottle-green nursery sweatshirt and a yellow nursery polo shirt.
The SEND arrangements allow visits before starting and agreed changes to settling. Where other professionals are involved, a joint meeting can plan support with the family.
Email office@stbedes.uk or telephone 020 8674 7292.
