St Monica's RC Primary School Nursery

Three session options give St Monica's nursery a clear practical shape: mornings, afternoons and a full day for children eligible for 30 hours funding. The choice matters for families balancing a shorter nursery session with care across the school day.

This is the nursery at St Monica's RC Primary School, a Catholic state primary on Woodsend Road South in Flixton, Manchester. The school's age range starts at 3. Its nursery provision sits within that school setting, with separate arrangements for applying to Reception later.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) covers more than early reading and numbers here. Its areas include communication and language, physical development, and personal, social and emotional development, alongside literacy, maths, expressive arts and understanding the world. In parent language, that brings talking, movement and feelings into the learning picture as well as letters and counting.

Examples from the nursery's 2021 learning activities make those areas concrete. Rhyming pairs and sound work sat alongside repeating patterns and Bear Hunt activities. Finger gym used play dough exercises, giving children something to manipulate while working on fine motor control. These are historical examples, rather than a timetable for the current intake.

A morning session runs from 9.00am until 12.00 noon; an afternoon runs from 12.30pm until 3.30pm. For eligible children taking a full day, the hours are 9.00am to 3.30pm, with the lunchtime period carrying an additional charge.

Settling took place in small stages for the September 2021 intake. Children and parents first had individual half-hour visits to meet staff and look around. New children then attended an hour-long visit without their parents before beginning their regular attendance the next day. The phased start extended over almost two weeks; the nursery said the aim was to introduce a few children at a time and keep the process calm.

Across the school, Zones of Regulation is used to help children manage emotions and support social, emotional and behavioural needs. The school also suggests using it at home, offering families a shared approach to discussing feelings. For enquiries about special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), parents can contact the school's SEND coordinator by telephone on 0161 748 3353.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through Trafford School Admissions by 15th January for the September intake that year.

There is also paperwork for the school: its application form, proof of address and a baptism certificate where applicable. Families therefore need to complete both the Trafford application and the school requirements, rather than treating nursery enrolment as the final step.

Full-day funding. Full-time places depend on eligibility for 30 hours funding, and an extra charge covers the lunchtime period. Ask the school for current charges when considering that option.

Intake timing. A January nursery intake is subject to availability and reviewed each year. Families considering that start should keep the conditional arrangement in mind.

Nursery enquiries go to the school office at stmonicas.admin@trafford.gov.uk or 0161 748 3353. For the September 2023 intake, families received their visit and start times in their joining packs, giving them an individual schedule to follow.