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Nursery at St Patrick'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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Vegetables and herbs in the garden give early learning a concrete starting point at St Patrick's. This is the school's own nursery on Longfield Avenue in Walthamstow, with morning, afternoon and full-day options. Families can choose between a shorter session and a day spanning six hours.
Ofsted judged the school's early years provision Good at the inspection of 14 and 15 June 2023. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) approach starts with individual children: their interests, existing experience and next steps in learning. The school describes planning that is regularly reconsidered, with families involved alongside staff. For parents, the useful principle is that learning should build from what their child already understands.
In June 2023, the early years curriculum was ambitious, with learning organised in a deliberate sequence across its areas. Reading and writing featured frequently. Staff also helped children develop control of small hand movements, making physical development part of learning alongside early literacy.
The garden adds another dimension. Children grew herbs and vegetables and learned about nature, giving them something tangible to explore. These are specific early years activities, rather than school clubs assumed to be open to nursery children.
Care helped children become comfortable with the setting. In June 2023, children in early years settled promptly and became confident about taking turns, supported by attentive adults. This connects emotional security with the everyday social skills needed to join activities with other children.
For children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the school's early years policy provides for assessment of their starting points and continuing observation. Existing information about a child's needs is shared during transition so that the teacher and special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCo) can plan activities and resources around them.
The 2025–2026 SEND information report describes SEN Support Plans containing a One Page Profile and individual targets, with family involvement in reviews. Complex needs. The June 2023 inspection identified inconsistent teaching support for a minority of pupils with complex needs across the school. Families should weigh that concern alongside the early years care findings when considering their child's support needs.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. The 2027–2028 admission arrangements do not give priority for attending the nursery. Families must apply separately through Waltham Forest's eAdmissions route and complete the additional school application form obtained from the office, returning it by the closing date.
Transition support is a separate matter. For learners with SEND, the school describes handover meetings between teachers and planned opportunities to meet the next teacher and visit the new class. Familiarity can help with a change of classroom; it does not change the admission decision.
Morning Only runs from 8.30am to 11.30am, Afternoon Only from 12.30pm to 3.30pm, and Full Day from 9am to 3pm. The full-day pattern starts later and finishes earlier than the combined span of the two shorter sessions, a useful distinction when arranging family schedules.
Contact the school office on 0208 509 4321 or email school@st-patricks.waltham.sch.uk for nursery enquiries. The office is also the contact route for speaking with the SENCo about additional needs.
Morning Only is 8.30am–11.30am, Afternoon Only is 12.30pm–3.30pm, and Full Day is 9am–3pm.
No. Nursery and Reception applications are separate, and the 2027–2028 admission arrangements give no priority for nursery attendance.
For 2027–2028, families apply through Waltham Forest's eAdmissions route and also complete a school application form obtained from the office, returning it by the closing date.
Early years provision was judged Good at the school inspection on 14 and 15 June 2023. This is an early years judgement within the school's inspection.
Contact the school office on 0208 509 4321 or school@st-patricks.waltham.sch.uk to speak with the SENCo.
