The FMS Inspection Score is FindMySchool's proprietary analysis based on official Ofsted and ISI inspection reports. It converts ratings into a standardised 1–10 scale for fair comparison across all schools in England.
Disclaimer: The FMS Inspection Score is an independent analysis by FindMySchool. It is not endorsed by or affiliated with Ofsted or ISI. Always refer to the official Ofsted or ISI report for the full picture of a school’s inspection outcome.
Nursery at St Mary'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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Discovery Time, storytelling and conversation give this teacher-led nursery its character. At St Mary's Catholic Primary School in Wimbledon, nursery belongs to the school's Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), with Catholic values of love, resilience and faith shaping the provision. The emphasis is on children learning to express themselves as well as preparing for school.
Children normally join in September following their third birthday. Earlier entry can begin on the Monday following that birthday, conditional on a vacancy and funding eligibility. There are 26 places in each morning and afternoon session. Ofsted graded the school's early years provision Good following its December 2021 inspection; that judgement covers the early years phase rather than nursery alone.
Play and adult teaching both have a place here. Discovery Time allows children to explore through play, while adults also lead learning. The EYFS curriculum brings together language, social and emotional development, and the beginnings of literacy and mathematics. For parents, that means a day concerned with conversation and relationships alongside early learning skills.
Storytelling, songs and role play provide opportunities to practise speaking and listening. Adults introduce vocabulary and model conversation, giving children examples they can use when explaining an idea or joining a discussion. Read Write Inc introduces Nursery children to Set 1 sounds, connecting letter sounds with the beginnings of reading and writing.
Books also become a shared activity. Weekly Reciprocal Reading starts in Nursery, using class discussion to explore texts and vocabulary. Classroom book corners provide a physical place for reading. The St Mary's Association of Parents and Teachers (SMA) has funded replacement play equipment for Early Years and a renewed garden for the school community to enjoy.
Personal, social and health education uses Ten:Ten Life to the Full Plus Primary PSHE from Nursery onwards. Its Christian basis gives families another concrete indication of how the Catholic character shapes learning.
A qualified teacher leads nursery provision. The staff list for 2025-6 also identifies a Nursery teaching assistant and an EYFS teaching assistant. Parent Mail carries school information, while nursery uses Seesaw for home learning. These give families practical routes for receiving messages and supporting learning at home.
Full-time children can have a hot lunch or bring food from home, including choosing different arrangements on different days. There are two hot choices each morning. Lunch payments are separate from nursery fees and handled through Parentmail; childcare vouchers and tax-free childcare accounts cannot cover them. Meals are nut free, and allergy-related diets can be arranged with a medical letter.
The school's SEND process combines observation, assessment and conversations with families and relevant professionals. Parents are involved throughout and invited to meetings with the SENCO and support services. This provides a route for discussing a child's needs and planning support together.
Attending nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application, completing the local authority's Common Application Form and returning the school's Additional Information Form to the school. The online route is through Merton's school admissions service.
For September 2026 entry, the deadline was 15 January 2026. That was a past admissions cycle. For their child's Reception year, families must follow the normal application process and the local authority's deadline; choosing nursery is a separate decision.
Term-time sessions run from 8.30am to 11.30am, 12.30pm to 3.30pm, or 8.30am to 3.30pm. The full day totals 35 hours a week. Universal funding covers 15 weekly hours from the term following a child's third birthday, making morning or afternoon attendance free of charge. Eligible families using 30 funded hours can collect at 2.30pm instead of 3.30pm with no additional nursery payment. Ask the school for current charges for unfunded hours, meals and wraparound care.
Breakfast Club and Smarty Club extend care from 7.30am to 6pm. Breakfast bookings can be regular or occasional through Parentmail; Smarty Club requires regular slots. Holiday clubs are conditional rather than guaranteed, so term-time care needs a separate holiday plan.
Nursery uniform includes a branded gold polo, navy sweatshirt and navy shorts or jogging pants, with plain black or white plimsolls or trainers. Enquiries go to admin@st-marys.merton.sch.uk, and individual school tours can be arranged through admissions. Collection arrangements should be emailed to pickupinfo@st-marys.merton.sch.uk.
Children usually start in September after turning three. Earlier entry, from the Monday after their third birthday, depends on places and funding eligibility.
Morning sessions are 8.30am to 11.30am, afternoons are 12.30pm to 3.30pm, and full-time nursery runs from 8.30am to 3.30pm. All are term-time only.
Yes. Care extends from 7.30am to 6pm for an additional charge. Breakfast Club accepts regular or occasional bookings through Parentmail, while Smarty Club requires regular slots.
Yes. Full-time children can bring a packed lunch on some or all days, or choose a hot school lunch. Hot lunches are charged separately.
No. A separate Reception application is required, using the local authority's Common Application Form and the school's Additional Information Form, by the deadline for the relevant admissions cycle.
