St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Nursery Review

Story choices, pretend play and trips into the wider school shape nursery life at St Joseph's. This is the school's own Nursery Class on George Row in Bermondsey, with 30 full-time-equivalent places. Catholic education forms the setting's context: the school asks families to support its religious ethos.

In the Ofsted inspection published on 3 February 2026, early years met the Expected standard. That judgement covers the early years provision within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.

Speaking and listening are central to the nursery's early reading work. Children hear stories, explore rhyme and practise conversations, giving them ways to express ideas before reading becomes more formal. Little Wandle is the named phonics approach, while nursery activities include clapping syllables and recognising matching initial sounds. Reading corners and play areas give books and imaginative activity their own places.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings learning through play together with language, movement and early number work. Nursery maths includes matching quantities to numerals up to 5 and comparing amounts. Children also experiment with scissors, pencils and construction materials. These activities connect early thinking skills with practical tasks rather than keeping learning on paper.

Choice has a place in the routine: children vote between two books at the end of the day. Storytelling extends beyond the classroom, too. Nursery children have visited Canada Water library for a storytelling session, and a trip to Surrey Docks Farm included feeding animals and exploring the farmyard. These are concrete examples of learning beyond the school site.

Come and See provides the religious education framework, with Ten: Ten Units supporting personal, social and emotional development. In February 2026, children across early years took part confidently in activities and enjoyed talking with adults. Adult interaction. Some exchanges did less to extend children's vocabulary and understanding; improving the quality of these interactions throughout the day was an early years next step. This matters because conversation is such a substantial part of nursery learning.

Settling begins with contact between families and the nursery team. A summer-term Nursery Welcome Meeting introduces routines, the settling timetable, uniform and mealtimes. Parents also discuss helping children manage eating, getting dressed and using the toilet independently. Where necessary, nursery teachers visit a child's previous nursery, allowing introductions in familiar surroundings.

Lunch takes nursery children into the wider school environment. For children needing additional support, the SENDCO consults parents and seeks consent before arranging SEND support and a provision map. Individual targets are reviewed half-termly, giving families regular points at which to discuss progress and adjustments.

The school has a Sensory room for children who benefit from sensory experiences or need help with over- or under-stimulation. Lift access and external ramps support movement around the building. These are school facilities, rather than rooms reserved for nursery.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal local authority route by the applicable closing date, alongside returning the school's supplementary form and supporting documents directly to the school. Southwark is the local admissions contact.

Familiarity develops separately from admission. Nursery children regularly visit Reception classrooms during the academic year, sharing learning and getting to know the teachers. Visits elsewhere in school for music, computing, PE and lunch also introduce spaces and routines before the next stage.

The nursery accepts 15 hour and 30 hour childcare codes. Families can book a tour by calling 020 7237 4267 or emailing info@stjosephs-georgerow.southwark.sch.uk. Nursery children must be accompanied to school and collected by a parent or carer.

Travel. There is no parking on the school site, and surrounding streets fall within controlled parking Zone G. Nearby buses include C10, 381, 188 and 47; Bermondsey station is a 5 minute walk away. This makes the journey worth planning around public transport or walking.