St Teresa’s Nursery, Irlam

Catholic faith gives this school nursery its setting and its character. Nursery provision forms part of St Teresa’s RC Primary School a Voluntary Academy in Irlam, within St Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Academy Trust. The school describes faith as shaping learning throughout its curriculum, with curiosity and an appetite for knowledge among its aims for children.

For families choosing a nursery within a Catholic primary school, that religious context is a central consideration. It is part of the school’s educational purpose.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the curriculum framework. Across the Trust, early years settings use the revised EYFS framework alongside Development Matters. Language and vocabulary receive attention from early years onwards, placing children’s developing communication within the wider curriculum priorities.

Reading aloud, class libraries and book corners are features of the Trust’s reading approach. These give books a place in learning beyond formal reading instruction. The emphasis here is on early language as well as reading: words, conversation and familiarity with books belong together in that approach.

Inclusion is another shared curriculum principle. The Trust describes adaptations for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), children learning English as an additional language and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Modelling and scaffolding are among its teaching approaches, with teaching assistants supporting independence. For parents, the relevant emphasis is access to learning alongside the development of children’s own skills.

Support includes a Trust structure as well as the school’s own responsibilities. A Safeguarding Team supplies staff guidance and training across the schools. Parents with a safeguarding concern should contact the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead first. This provides a clear starting point for raising a concern about a child.

An Attendance Team also works with families, school staff and outside agencies to address barriers to attendance. Its role includes tailored support and strategies. Separately, SENCOs and headteachers across the Trust have taken part in its SEND Professional Learning Network, including professional development about SEND responsibilities, law and funding. These are Trust support arrangements, rather than a description of an individual child’s care plan.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the applicable deadline.

The Trust is the admission authority; the relevant local authority coordinates admissions on its behalf. Parents should use their home local authority’s admissions process. Keep this distinction clear when planning ahead: choosing the nursery and applying for Reception are separate decisions.

The school is at 5 MacDonald Road, Irlam, Manchester, M44 5LH. Nursery enquiries can go to the school office by email at office@stteresassalford.stoccat.org.uk or by telephone on 0161 777 8203. Use this school contact for nursery enquiries, and the home local authority route for the separate school admissions process.