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Nursery at English Martyrs Roman 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Daily phonics, percussion and Catholic prayer give this Wapping nursery its character. English Martyrs welcomes children from age three into nursery provision attached to the primary school on St Mark Street. Tower Hamlets’ 2026 nursery directory lists 30 places, subject to availability, alongside full-time provision and breakfast and after-school clubs.
Faith shapes the learning as well as the daily routines. Nursery uses the religious education model To know You more clearly, and families of any faith or none can apply. Choosing here means choosing a Catholic school experience from the start.
Books have a clear place in the day. Nursery phonics happens daily, with Phase 1 the teaching endpoint identified for Nursery. Early-years reading also takes place in small groups, where adults use conversation and questions to explore meaning. These are distinct activities: children work on phonics while also talking about what books mean.
Each classroom has its own book collection and reading area, and children can use the school library. In February 2022, Ofsted found that early-years children shared books every day and learned confidently in an environment planned around their learning. That gives the reading provision a concrete daily purpose, rather than making books an occasional activity.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) includes Understanding the World: here, children explore their surroundings through local trips and discuss past and present using books and their own experiences. Weekly early-years music sessions bring together songs, rhymes, rhythm and untuned percussion. There is room for listening, talking and making music together.
Prayer is another recurring part of the day. Every class prays at several points, with ways of praying adapted to children’s age and development. For families, the Catholic character is part of ordinary nursery life.
Communication includes a home-school reading record that parents of younger children can complete daily. This gives families a practical way to contribute to reading at home and share that involvement with staff.
The school’s SEND support structure includes a SENDCo, classroom teaching assistants, speech and language therapy and educational psychology, with specialist autism outreach from Phoenix School. Parents can take part in SEND review meetings and arrange additional discussions through the office. These routes give families a way to discuss individual needs and the support their child requires.
For preparation at home, the school shares a Tower Hamlets Family Fun sheet. Its advice includes practising short separations with familiar adults, talking about school routines and reading starting-school stories. This is preparation advice for families, rather than a description of the nursery’s induction programme.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place and gives no nursery-attendance priority under the 2027–28 arrangements. Parents must make a separate application through their home local authority, using the Common Application Form, with a school Supplementary Information Form for the relevant admission categories.
For September 2027 entry, Tower Hamlets gives 15 January 2027 as the Reception closing date; the school policy specifies 16 January. Use the earlier date for planning and submission.
Transition support is a separate matter. In February 2022, Nursery and Reception staff worked together closely and understood individual children’s needs, helping children prepare for the next classroom. That educational continuity does not alter admission rights.
The nursery day ends at 3:05pm, and the EYFS lunch break runs from 11:30am to noon. Breakfast and after-school clubs are booked through the school office.
Tower Hamlets’ coordinated nursery scheme offers part-time places first. Families can then request full-time attendance, subject to availability and funding eligibility, including the required HMRC code for additional funded hours. Additional hours can also be charged; contact the school for current charges.
A school visit can be requested through the admissions-page form, selecting Nursery as the year of interest. This provides a direct route to arranging a visit before making a choice.
The school welcomes children from age three. Tower Hamlets explains that eligible children can access a funded nursery place from the term after their third birthday.
Tower Hamlets’ 2026 directory lists 30 nursery places at English Martyrs, subject to availability.
Activities include daily phonics, small-group discussion of books, weekly early-years music and learning about the world through local trips and personal experiences. Catholic prayer also forms part of the day.
No. A fresh Reception application is required, and nursery attendance does not confer priority under the 2027–28 arrangements.
Yes. The admissions page has a visit-request form with Nursery among the year-group options.
