St Mary's RC Primary School Nursery Review

Frozen paints, Diva lamps and stories taken to the library give St Mary's nursery its character: learning made tangible through materials, celebrations and books. Known as F1, the nursery belongs to the Catholic primary school on Kynder Street in Denton, whose age range begins at three.

Ofsted graded the school's early years provision Good following its inspection on 15 and 16 October 2024. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

A morning session runs from 8:50am until 11:50am. Within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), the learning described here brings together language, number and exploration. In October 2024, children in early years concentrated on activities and worked cooperatively. Their number understanding developed quickly, while adults introduced vocabulary that children used to explain their ideas. These are useful foundations for participating in learning with others.

Water trays and a small world area supplied the setting for a nursery ice investigation in February 2020. Children experimented with frozen paint, described the ice and watched it change. This connected sensory play with observing and talking about a physical process. Outdoor activity also appears in the nursery's November 2020 Diwali work: children accompanied traditional music with instruments and danced outside.

Books give activities a shared starting point. In November 2022, F1 used Little Glow for its Diwali learning, then made Diva lamps, paintings and Rangoli designs, alongside firework play dough. At a library visit in July 2023, F1 shared Walking Through the Jungle. Children explored books during the visit and took home invitations to join the library, extending the activity beyond the classroom.

Preparation starts with materials for both adults and children. The Starting School page brings together Welcome to Nursery, Starting in Nursery Information for Children, All About Me induction and EYFS induction forms. A virtual tour introduces the F1 classroom, giving families a way to begin talking about the new setting before their child starts.

For children with additional needs, the school's SEND process involves parents in discussions and in its Assess, Plan, Do, Review cycle. Short-term targets are checked regularly; parents are informed before outside specialists become involved. This gives families a defined role in reviewing support. The safeguarding policy also assigns lead and deputy responsibilities and states that staff have current safeguarding training.

Food has featured in learning activities: the January 2023 EYFS Chinese New Year work included tasting Chinese food alongside role play and making lanterns. This was a curriculum experience, rather than a description of routine meals.

Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process. The school's admissions page directs primary applicants to Tameside's online application service, while nursery applications go through the school office. Treat these as separate steps when planning your child's move into school.

Morning collection. F1 finishes at 11:50am, so families need arrangements that fit a morning nursery session. The school gates open at 8:40am, ahead of the 8:50am start.

Nursery application enquiries go to the school office. Contact it on 0161 336 3322 or at admin@stmarysdenton.com. The school also provides downloadable letters, with replacement paper copies obtainable through the office, giving parents another way to keep track of information sent home.