St Mary's RC Primary School Nursery

Love, joy and dignity give this nursery's school setting its defining character. Nursery provision forms part of St Mary's RC Primary School in Failsworth, a Catholic school on Clive Road. For families, the choice includes the school's religious identity as well as an introduction to school life.

St Mary's belongs to the Emmaus Catholic Academy Trust within Salford Diocese. The school places faith alongside forgiveness, honesty and community in its core values. These are the school's stated principles, giving parents a clear sense of the attitudes it aims to encourage in children.

Spiritual development begins from children's entry to the school. St Mary's describes this as work shared with parents, building on what families already do at home. That makes the relationship between home and school relevant from the beginning, rather than something reserved for later religious milestones.

Joy is also one of the school's core values: St Mary's links enjoyment with learning and growing. Its wider aims include helping children stay active, eat healthily, take responsibility and enjoy themselves. These are school-wide aims, useful for understanding the context in which the nursery operates.

Communication with families has a clear purpose. Parents are encouraged to discuss concerns with the class teacher and tell the school about circumstances that could affect their child's wellbeing or behaviour. This gives families a direct way to explain changes at home that may matter during the school day.

Where a child has significant difficulties with learning, relationships or behaviour, the school contacts parents early to seek their help. St Mary's also aims to recognise each child's individual qualities and help children feel secure and confident. Those are its stated care aims, rather than a separate assessment of nursery quality.

Attending the nursery does not guarantee a place in St Mary's Reception. Nursery and Reception admission are separate processes: families must apply again through the normal Reception application route and meet the normal deadline. Treat that application as a separate step when planning your child's next stage.

The school's emphasis on partnership with parents concerns children's development and wellbeing. It should not be read as an admissions advantage or a promise of a Reception place.

For enquiries, the school can be reached on 0161 681 6663. Its address is Clive Road, Failsworth, Manchester, M35 0NW.

A preloved uniform rail occupies the school's meeting room. Families can speak to the office about viewing nearly new items or donating clothing, providing a practical option for reusing school uniform. Parents can also participate in Friends of St Mary's: membership follows from being a parent or guardian of a child at the school, and the group supports fundraising and social activities.