Nursery at St Paul's Church of England Primary School

In July 2023, songs, rhymes and outdoor obstacles gave St Paul's early years provision a practical character: children rehearsed language, explored numbers and learnt to control their movements. The provision sits within the Church of England primary school on Penrose Street in Walworth, London.

An expansion for children aged 2 to 3 was announced for September 2025, with funded places offered. That announcement concerns a younger age group than the provision assessed in July 2023. Ofsted judged the school's early years provision Good at the inspection on 18 and 19 July 2023; that judgement predates the planned expansion.

Early learning connects language with activity. In July 2023, repeated songs and rhymes in Nursery prepared children for later reading. Early years teaching also helped children understand numbers up to 10. These are concrete foundations: hearing and practising familiar language alongside developing an understanding of number.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) includes learning through physical and creative activity here. Outdoors, children tackled obstacles, practising balance and coordinating their bodies. Inside the early years learning programme, a transport topic brought toy vehicles into painting. In February 2025, Sycamore class used toy vehicles with primary coloured paints to make marks on paper, examined the resulting lines and shapes, and noticed colours changing as paints mixed. Familiar toys became tools for experimentation.

Curriculum precision. In July 2023, some early years learning lacked sufficiently clear content and sequencing. Teaching and checks on children's understanding did not consistently focus on essential knowledge and vocabulary, leaving some learning less secure. This qualifies the positive picture of reading preparation, number work and physical learning: the building blocks were stronger in some areas than others.

Emotional development has a physical space of its own. The EYFS Break out room is separate from the classroom, giving a child somewhere to pause. Children can request a break themselves or receive a visual cue from an adult. The school uses this arrangement to help children recognise their feelings and develop ways to regulate them.

Support sits within the school's SEND arrangements. Teachers and the SENCo use an assess, plan, do, review cycle, drawing on parents' experience as well as classroom assessment. Parents receive notes from initial discussions about support and are formally informed when SEN support is agreed. Teaching assistants provide individual or small-group interventions where needed.

In July 2023, early years children used established routines to practise turn-taking and handling emotions. Care therefore included learning how to participate alongside other children, as well as responding to individual needs.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route by the applicable deadline. Treat choosing nursery and applying for Reception as separate decisions; familiarity with the school must not be mistaken for an allocated place.

For nursery applications, collect a form from the school office. The announcement for the September 2025 expansion included funded places for children aged 2 to 3.

Stay and Play is a separate opportunity for children aged 0 to 5 accompanied by an adult. Sessions run on Thursdays from 9:15am to 11:45am and are free. The adult remains with the child, so this is a shared play session rather than a nursery childcare booking.

Contact the school office at office@stpauls.southwark.sch.uk or on 020 7703 4896 for enquiries.