St Peter's Catholic Primary School Nursery Review

Friday messy play, Nursery Rhyme Week and songs for the EYFS nativity give St Peter's nursery its character: practical exploration, language and Catholic life share the classroom. The nursery belongs to St Peter's Catholic Primary School on Firbank Road in Newall Green, Manchester. This is a school nursery with its own class, rather than a separate childcare provider.

Catholic faith shapes the school's curriculum, with kindness, forgiveness and respect among its stated values. For families, that makes the religious character part of the learning experience from the outset.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the curriculum framework for early learning. Language and reading receive deliberate attention: the Nursery Reading Challenge gives families a book list, while the English curriculum includes poetry alongside fiction and factual texts. These provide different ways for children to encounter words and stories.

Classroom activities connect learning with experiences children recognise. The nursery's Celebration Topic has included birthdays and Diwali, alongside Nursery Rhyme Week. Friday messy play adds practical exploration; learning nativity songs brings singing into the same picture. These examples give parents a more useful sense of the day than a list of curriculum headings alone.

A mathematics example from 2021/22 shows nursery children examining shapes around them and discussing their characteristics. That links mathematical language to things children can investigate. Project Evolve also begins in nursery, introducing learning about online safety.

Ofsted's October 2022 inspection found that early-years children settled successfully and developed their language through familiar tales, rhymes and regular stories read by teachers. Its account of phonics also identified a need for additional training for a few staff, a qualification to the positive reading findings.

Everyday care has some straightforward practical expectations. Children bring a named water bottle, and families supply replacement clothing, including socks and underwear. Naming coats and jumpers helps keep belongings identifiable. These arrangements support drinking during the day and changing clothes when needed.

An Early Years Foundation Stage Lead sits within the school team, alongside a SENDCo and safeguarding leads. The wider school employs qualified teachers and teaching assistants. Class teachers can be approached in the playground each morning and at collection time; telephone messages can also be passed to the relevant member of staff. Families therefore have routes for raising everyday concerns.

The school's SEND procedures involve parents in individual plans and reviews. Support may include extra adult help, adapted materials or specialist equipment, according to the child's needs. School accessibility features include ramps at external doors and accessible toilets fitted with handrails. These are concrete considerations for families whose child needs physical access or additional support.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process: Manchester City Council coordinates entry, while the school handles nursery applications itself. Treat the two applications as distinct steps.

The SEND policy also provides for receiving schools to join reviews at key-stage transitions. For children with an education, health and care plan, this creates a route for discussing support with the next setting, separately from the allocation of a place.

The office supplies the nursery application form and arranges school visits. Contact 0161 437 1495 or admin@st-peters.manchester.sch.uk to begin that process.

School uniform combines red sweatshirts with white tops and black trousers or skirts. Previously worn uniform is available through school, offering families another way to obtain clothing. Label belongings and pack the nursery's spare-clothes bag before the first session.