St Augustine's Catholic Primary School and Nursery: Nursery Review

Morning, afternoon or a full-time place: St Augustine’s nursery gives families a choice of attendance patterns within a Catholic primary school. Provision starts at age three, with part-time places offering 15 hours and full-time places offering 30 hours for eligible children. The distinction matters when fitting nursery around family routines.

The nursery belongs to St Augustine’s on Dunfield Road. Its wider school community follows Gospel values including hope, justice and faith. Nursery parents also become members of the Parent Staff Association automatically, giving families a way to get involved through activities such as preparing Christmas presents or helping with the summer fete.

Listening to everyday sounds is one concrete starting point for learning. Ofsted’s March 2024 inspection described nursery children learning to tell environmental sounds apart from the start. This gives an early introduction to listening closely and noticing differences between sounds.

Number learning also crosses between indoor and outdoor activities. In March 2024, children explored activities linked to the number five after being introduced to it. The same idea was revisited in different settings, giving children further opportunities to practise rather than encountering it only once.

The inspection also identified school-wide weaknesses in precise subject vocabulary and in checking the basic knowledge needed before introducing new concepts. These were findings about the wider school, rather than conclusions specifically about nursery teaching.

Communication with families includes the school’s open-door arrangement: parents can approach teachers before or after school, speaking then or arranging an appointment. Families are encouraged to share concerns and changes at home that might affect their child. That gives staff useful context for conversations about care.

School medical procedures require an adult to deliver prescribed medicine to the office and parents to complete a permission form. Families should also provide full details of serious health conditions. These are practical preparations for a child who needs medication during attendance.

The school’s lunch arrangements allow packed lunches as an alternative to meals prepared by its kitchen team. Nuts are excluded because of allergies, so families preparing food need to bear that restriction in mind.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the usual school application process; the school can help with that process. Choosing the nursery should therefore be a decision about the nursery experience itself, with Reception treated as a separate application.

Part-time attendance is offered through either morning or afternoon sessions. Full-time attendance is conditional on qualifying for the 30-hour provision. The School Office handles nursery enquiries: telephone 020 8698 6083 or email info@staugustines.lewisham.sch.uk.

Nursery uniform is optional. Suggested clothing pairs a navy tracksuit with a pale blue polo shirt, with navy shorts and a pale blue T-shirt for summer.

The main entrance is on Dunfield Road, where parking is limited. Families are asked to keep the gates and zig-zag markings clear. Playground racks provide storage for bicycles and scooters, making those options practical for the journey.