St Edward's Catholic Primary School Nursery

Familiar rhymes, repeated stories and routines learned early give St Edward's youngest children a purposeful start. Nursery provision forms part of St Edward's Catholic Primary School on Eastbourne Road in Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, placing this early education within a Catholic primary school.

Ofsted graded the school's early years provision Outstanding at its inspection on 5 and 6 December 2023. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery. For parents, the most useful detail behind it is the emphasis on communication and on helping children understand what adults expect of them.

Books and rhymes are central to the early learning described here. In December 2023, children became familiar with carefully selected texts through repeated encounters, and stories held their interest. Repetition gives children opportunities to return to familiar language; the emphasis is on building that familiarity before formal phonics teaching begins.

Communication takes priority from early years. This makes the work with stories more than an introduction to books: it is preparation for the next stage of learning to read. The concrete ingredients are simple, repeated rhymes and books chosen to engage young children. Familiarity matters.

Routines are another defining feature. In December 2023, early years children learned the daily expectations quickly and responded readily to the standards adults set. For a parent considering a first experience of school, that combination of predictable routines and clear expectations is a useful part of the picture: learning how the day works accompanies learning through language.

Clear routines also shape children's early experience of care. The December 2023 findings describe children establishing these quickly, giving families a concrete indication of how adults help the youngest pupils adjust to school expectations.

For families considering additional needs, NPCAT provides parent support resources including the Middlesbrough Local Offer and SENDIASS. SENDIASS gives children and young people with special educational needs, and their parents and carers, free advice that is impartial. It provides a route to advice alongside conversations about a child's individual needs.

Let's Make Sense Together is another named resource. Created by local therapists, its information addresses sensory processing differences through videos, advice sheets and links to further support. Parents and carers can use it, as can teachers and others supporting a child.

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

For NPCAT schools, apply through the admissions team at the local authority where you live, then complete a Supplementary Information Form directly for the school. These are distinct steps. Choosing the nursery should therefore remain a decision about your child's early education, with the Reception application treated as a separate responsibility.

Contact St Edward's directly for nursery enquiries on 01642 819507. The school address is Eastbourne Road, Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, TS5 6QS. Direct contact with the school is the enquiry route for families interested in its provision.