Nursery at St Cuthbert's RC Primary School

Learning to recognise feelings gives nursery life at St Cuthbert's a concrete focus. Through Zones of Regulation, children in Early Years begin identifying emotions, giving families a shared starting point for talking about how their child feels.

The nursery forms part of the Catholic primary school on Heyscroft Road in Withington, Manchester. It has a nursery teacher within a wider staff structure that includes leadership for Early Years and an Inclusion Team. For parents choosing a school nursery, that connection brings routes to discuss learning and additional support alongside the nursery provision itself.

Emotional learning is woven into teaching through Zones of Regulation. Four colours help children identify feelings; the Early Years emphasis is on recognising different emotions. The school aims to help children understand their responses and develop ways to manage them. Parents can use the same colour framework at home, making conversations about feelings more consistent between home and school.

Across the school, the curriculum aims to combine practical experiences with cooperative learning and a Growth Mindset approach. These are school-wide aims: children are encouraged to tackle challenges, learn together and reflect on their work. The emphasis gives parents a useful sense of the learning culture surrounding the nursery.

Full-time nursery places are offered. An agreed transition period precedes the expectation of full-time attendance, so the move into that routine has a distinct settling stage.

Parents with concerns about special educational needs or disabilities can speak to their child's class teacher or the Inclusion Team. Meetings can take place remotely or face to face. This gives families a direct way to discuss a concern rather than waiting for it to become a larger difficulty.

The school's support process includes notifying parents when evidence indicates that extra help is needed, then putting a strategy in place. Teachers work alongside the Inclusion Team and adapt their teaching approaches.

School meals are prepared by the school's own catering employees. The daily choice consists of one cold option and two hot options, with menus designed around children's dietary needs. Changing from packed lunches to school meals requires two weeks' notice to the office, an arrangement families should build into their planning.

A nursery place does not guarantee admission to Reception. Families must make a separate application through the Local Authority Admissions Team, which manages the process across the city and contacts parents directly.

The application timing is January before the school year when the child becomes eligible for Reception. Treat this as a separate decision and application, even if your child already attends nursery.

The school timetable runs from 8:45am until 3:15pm, Monday to Friday in term time. Nursery children are expected to attend full time after their agreed transition period. Part-time nursery places can also be requested, subject to availability.

For the 2026-2027 school year, the nursery closes on 20 and 21 May 2027. Families will need to plan care for those dates.

Tours can be arranged by calling 0161 445 6079 or emailing admin@st-cuthberts.manchester.sch.uk. The office also arranges appointments with staff, providing a practical route for discussing your child's needs before joining.