St Elizabeth Catholic Primary School Nursery Review

Outdoor reading, construction and children choosing their own activities give this nursery its character. At St Elizabeth Catholic Primary School on Bonner Road in Bethnal Green, nursery provision starts with Caterpillar Class for two-year-olds and continues with Butterfly Class for children aged three to four. Both belong to the school’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

Teachers, teaching assistants and nursery nurses make up the early years team. The school describes its early years approach as inclusive and anti-racist, with children’s cultures represented in the learning environment.

Play shapes the learning. Children spend time in activities guided by adults and in play they choose themselves; staff take children’s interests and ideas into account when planning. That gives children a say in what they explore, alongside adult direction. Classroom resources are readily available, supporting children’s activity choices.

The EYFS covers seven areas. In parent language, these bring together talking and listening, movement, managing feelings and relationships, early reading and writing, number, discovering the world and creative expression. Communication, physical development and personal development form the foundations for the other learning. This is a nursery curriculum that reaches beyond preparation for reading: relationships and movement have their own place.

Outside, learning continues across the curriculum. The outdoor area includes places for reading, quieter maths games and construction, rather than serving only as a break from classroom activities. Children can choose outdoor learning for much of their day. Those different spaces allow a child to move between a quieter activity and building or exploring, while continuing to learn through play.

Class Dojo lets parents contact teachers directly. Consultation evenings take place each term, while play and learn sessions run every half term. Together, these give families both a regular discussion about their child and opportunities to take part in the learning. Parents’ contributions also inform staff assessments.

For children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the school’s support team has assistance from an educational psychologist, speech and language therapy and play therapy. Phoenix School provides specialist autism outreach. Parents can contact the SENDCo team through the general contact form, giving them a direct route to discuss concerns.

Breakfast Club accepts nursery children. Food includes fruit, cereal, toast and warm options, with breakfast served until 8:15am. Children then have time to play before joining their classroom or playground by 8:45am. This provides a food-and-play routine for families using the early session.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process; the application route includes eAdmissions alongside a school application form. Treat that application as a separate decision and complete it by the normal deadline.

Being part of the school’s early years provision and obtaining a Reception place are different matters. Keep the application process separate from your child’s nursery experience when planning the next step.

Full-time nursery runs from 8:45am to 3:25pm. Morning part-time sessions finish at 11:45am after an 8:45am start; afternoon sessions run from 12:25pm to 3:25pm. Drop-off and collection use the Nursery Gate. For the morning start, gates close at 9:00am, so punctuality matters to the daily routine.

Breakfast Club runs from 7:45am to 8:45am and accepts both regular and ad hoc bookings through ParentPay. Reserve a place in advance. It is charged separately; contact the school for current charges.

Uniform is compulsory. To arrange a visit, email school@st-elizabeth.uk or call 020 8980 3964. Applications for the two-year-old nursery begin by requesting a form from admissions@st-elizabeth.uk.