St Patrick's RC Primary School Nursery

A home visit and a welcome pack make the start at St Patrick’s a connection between home and nursery. This is the nursery within a Catholic primary school on Livesey Street in Collyhurst, Manchester, admitting children from age three. Nursery teaching staff work alongside teaching assistants supporting early years.

We hold no published inspection grade for it.

Across the school, children are encouraged to question, take an active part in learning and apply what they have learned. That gives families a picture of the intended approach: participation rather than simply listening. The school aims to connect learning with children’s interests and individual needs.

Lunch for early years runs from 11.30am to 12.30pm, providing a defined break within the day. The wider school has a cook and catering assistants.

Before starting, nursery children receive a pack explaining routines, and staff arrange a visit to their home. For children moving from another setting, nursery staff contact that setting and arrange to observe the child there and discuss their needs with existing staff. This gives the receiving team a way to learn about a child before the move.

Additional needs have a clear discussion route: start with the class teacher, then speak with the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCo). School support can include individual work, small groups and adapted resources such as visuals and talking tins. Speech and language therapy and occupational therapy are among the specialist services the school works with. These are routes for support according to need, rather than a fixed package for every child.

For children receiving SEND support, parents meet with the teacher and SENDCo each term to review provision and their child’s individual plan. Medication can be given during the day with a plan in place. Families therefore have both a regular review point and a process for discussing medical care.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place at St Patrick’s. Families must make a separate online application to Manchester local authority, including when their child already attends this nursery. Apply by the authority’s nominated date in the year before Reception starts; a late application can put the preferred school place at risk.

Preparation for a classroom move is a separate matter. Within school, children have opportunities to visit their next classroom, while staff hold handover meetings about individual needs and the strategies that support them. Familiarity supports the change of routine, but does not secure admission.

The school aims to offer full-time nursery places. Children must have reached three before admission, and nursery enquiries go through the school office on 0161 834 9004 or admin@st-patricks.manchester.sch.uk.

Collection arrangements require communication. Under the school’s collection procedure, parents tell the office or teacher when a friend or relative will collect, and share a password with both the school and the collecting adult. Contact the school if an unexpected delay affects collection.

Parking. Surrounding roads have permit restrictions, and vehicles entering school grounds are limited to staff and authorised deliveries. Plan the journey with those restrictions in mind.

Accessibility. The school building has three storeys and many stairs. Families are invited to view its layout and accessibility arrangements before their child starts, making this a useful part of preparing for nursery.