The Divine Mercy Roman Catholic Primary School Nursery Review

Nursery rhymes, poems and shared stories give Divine Mercy’s Nursery class a language-rich starting point. Children enjoy these with adults and one another, making books and spoken language a concrete part of their experience. This is nursery provision within The Divine Mercy Roman Catholic Primary School in Rusholme, Manchester, with a Catholic identity shared with the wider school.

Faith has a physical presence: each classroom has a prayer area containing prayers, crucifixes and displays. For families, that makes the religious character part of the learning surroundings, rather than simply a label attached to the school.

The Eden Early Years Curriculum follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), drawing on Development Matters for teaching, curriculum planning and assessment. Its seven learning areas extend beyond early reading and number work. Learning to communicate, manage feelings and develop physical skills sits alongside creative expression and discovering how the world works. The emphasis is on children’s development as well as subject learning.

Adults use observations to assess development and decide how to support or extend learning. That approach makes what a child can do a starting point for the next step. Sharing poems, stories and rhymes provides a specific example of the Nursery activities children enjoy together.

There is an important curriculum caution. At the Ofsted inspection on 22 and 23 May 2024, early years provision was judged Requires improvement. In May 2024, the sequence of early years learning was insufficiently precise: staff lacked a clear understanding of which knowledge and skills to teach at each stage. Refining that sequence was a required improvement, so preparation for later learning is a material consideration for families.

For concerns about a child’s development or support, the first contact is the class teacher, followed by the special educational needs coordinator (SENDCo). The school has a SEND team as well as the coordinator, giving families a route from an initial classroom conversation to more specialist discussion.

Accessibility includes entrances suitable for wheelchair users and children with restricted mobility. A lift serves the upper floor of the two-storey school building. These are practical features for families whose children have mobility needs.

Support for learning at home includes Tiny Happy People and The Potty Training Guide. These give parents resources around early communication and toilet training, alongside the school’s emphasis on observing children’s development.

Attending this nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet the applicable deadline. Treat choosing the Nursery and applying for Reception as two separate decisions.

Nursery enquiries can go to the school office on 0161 672 8660 or by email to admin@thedivinemercy.manchester.sch.uk. The school is at 20 Blue Moon Way, Rusholme, Manchester, M14 7SH.

The office sells both embroidered school uniform and plain items. Other uniform items can also be bought from supermarkets or clothing suppliers. Families experiencing difficulty buying uniform can speak to the office; second-hand items are sometimes available, and family circumstances are considered.