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Nursery at St Clare's 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Child-chosen play and daily phonics sit together at St Clare's: children help steer the topics they explore, while adults plan focused learning alongside them. This is the nursery within St Clare's RC Primary School in Blackley, Manchester, with Catholic faith shaping its early years curriculum.
Faith sits alongside curiosity, community, opportunities and language as the curriculum's guiding ideas. For parents, that means choosing an introduction to school in which learning about the world also includes respect for other people and responsibility towards them.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines learning through play with activities guided by adults. Nursery teaching initially concentrates on communication, physical development, and children's personal, emotional and social development. Other learning areas receive more attention as the year develops. Staff plan around children's interests and development, rather than expecting everyone to follow an identical path.
Broad topics provide a starting point, but children influence where the learning goes. Adult focus sessions involve either individual children or groups. Stories, factual books, verse and rhymes support these activities, giving children different reasons to listen, talk and explore ideas.
Daily phonics begins with Phase 1 Letters and Sounds; children move to Read Write Inc when ready. Tales toolkit, Word Aware and Poetry Basket also feature in the early years approach, alongside maths resources from Master the Curriculum and White Rose Maths. There is a balance between children's choices and planned teaching.
Indoor learning space and outdoor provision are both used for exploration, with resources changed to follow interests and learning opportunities. Children are encouraged to use these spaces across different weather conditions. Outdoor play therefore belongs to the learning day itself.
In April 2024, Ofsted identified early years activities that gave children plentiful language experiences, alongside enjoyment of visiting farm animals and hatching chicks. These offer concrete subjects for conversation and discovery. A separate, school-wide improvement action concerned assessment in a few subjects: checks needed to match taught content more closely so teaching could build accurately on existing knowledge.
Children starting in early years settled rapidly in April 2024. For the September 2022 intake, the settling arrangements included a teacher visiting either a new child's home or their existing setting. That dated example shows how contact before starting could connect school with a child's familiar surroundings.
Additional needs are addressed through the school's SEND coordinator, class teachers and learning support assistants. The early years approach includes considering specialist help where needed. Across the school, support can take place in class or through individual and small-group work in quieter spaces, with speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and educational psychologists among the outside specialists involved.
Families can arrange a conversation with the SEND coordinator through the office. Curriculum questions can also go to the class teacher or through the school app, giving parents a direct route to discuss learning and support.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply separately through the normal Reception process and meet its deadline. St Clare's admissions page requires a Manchester City Council application even though the school also manages its own admissions list.
The governing body makes admission decisions. The school also asks families to register their application with Manchester's admissions office. Treat the nursery choice and the later Reception application as separate decisions and processes.
For nursery enquiries, contact the office on 0161 740 4993 or email admin@st-clares.manchester.sch.uk. An online enquiry form provides another contact route.
The school's term-date page includes its 2026/2027 calendar, useful for organising family commitments around school dates. Its uniform guidance asks parents to label clothing and avoid jewellery, nail varnish and heeled shoes for safety.
No. A separate Reception application is required, including the Manchester City Council application specified by St Clare's.
Phonics takes place daily. Nursery children begin with Phase 1 Letters and Sounds and move to Read Write Inc when ready.
Yes. The early years learning environment includes indoor and outdoor provision, with children encouraged to explore across different weather conditions.
Contact the school office to arrange a conversation with the SEND coordinator. Early years staff consider specialist support where appropriate.
Call 0161 740 4993, email admin@st-clares.manchester.sch.uk or use the school's online enquiry form.
