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Nursery at St Ambrose RC 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Early reading starts in Nursery at St Ambrose: Read Write Inc gives this provision a named approach to learning about sounds and words. It sits within the Catholic primary school on Princess Road in Chorlton, with nursery applications held on a waiting list until children turn three.
Nursery belongs to the school's Early Years provision. The staffing structure includes an Early Years class teacher covering Nursery and Reception, giving families a point of contact within that team.
Read Write Inc begins in Nursery, with teaching organised around a child's learning stage rather than age. That distinction matters: starting the programme does not mean every nursery child follows the same reading tasks. The wider programme uses picture prompts to connect sounds with letters, and a puppet called Fred helps demonstrate how words can be sounded out. These are concrete tools for making early reading understandable.
The curriculum draws on the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Children learn to manage their emotions and build relationships, alongside understanding texts, beginning to read and write, and exploring numbers and number patterns. This brings personal development and early academic learning together. In April 2023, Ofsted found the early years curriculum ambitious, with its content thoughtfully organised. Reading has a clear starting point within that planning, rather than being left until children move beyond Nursery.
Daily routines also support learning through play. In April 2023, early years children understood the routines for playing and working safely with a clear purpose. For a young child, those familiar expectations provide a framework for taking part in activities alongside others.
Tapestry connects home with the Early Years classroom. Parents receive their account invitation by email and use it to follow their child's learning, providing something specific to talk about together at home.
For children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), the school's support structure includes a SENCo with the National Award for SENCo qualification. Its SEND policy allows support within the classroom, individual work or small groups, according to need. Parents take part in regular discussions with the class teacher and SENCo, so support decisions include their knowledge of their child.
The school also works with an Educational Psychologist, speech therapy and school nursing services. Families can contact the SENCo through the office or email, using FAO SENCO in the subject line. Welfare concerns have a separate route to the designated safeguarding lead through the same school telephone number and email address.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application: complete the school's application form and apply online through Manchester City Council. The school's admissions guidance gives the deadline as mid-January each year.
Treat this as a fresh application, even while your child attends Nursery. Familiarity with the Early Years team and involvement in nursery learning do not replace those required steps.
The Early Years timetable places registration at 8:45am and hometime at 3:15pm, with lunch from 11:45am to 12:45pm. Those times give families the daily school framework for planning journeys.
Uniform applies from Early Years. Children wear a navy logo jumper or cardigan, a white shirt and school tie, with black trousers, shorts or skirt and flat black shoes. Label belongings to help keep track of them.
For nursery enquiries, contact the office on 0161 445 3299 or email admin@st-ambrose.manchester.sch.uk. Nursery application forms can be returned by email, post or hand delivery, accompanied by the child's birth certificate and a baptism certificate if they have one.
Nursery applications remain on the waiting list until the child reaches three years old.
No. Families must complete the school's application form and apply online to Manchester City Council by the mid-January deadline each year.
Read Write Inc starts in Nursery. The school uses a stage rather than age approach.
Early Years parents receive an emailed invitation to activate a Tapestry account and follow their child's learning.
Yes. The uniform policy covers Early Years, including a navy logo jumper or cardigan, white shirt, school tie, black trousers, shorts or skirt, and flat black shoes.
