St Mary's Catholic Primary School Nursery Review

At the November 2023 inspection, a grassy slope gave nursery children opportunities to build strength, coordination and confidence through outdoor play. Children aged two and three attend the nursery at St Mary's Catholic Primary School in Grangetown, within the school's early years team. Its character combines physical exploration with close attention to children's language.

At the Ofsted inspection on 7 and 8 November 2023, early years provision was graded Outstanding. That judgement covers the school's early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Play and adult conversation work together here. In November 2023, children maintained their attention during play, while adults extended what they were learning and helped them express their ideas. Resources were chosen around children's needs. The nursery's sloping grass area was a concrete example: children used the terrain to build movement skills and confidence, making the outdoor environment part of their learning.

Stories bring another clear thread to the early years day. The Over and Over approach uses ten core texts each half-term, returning to them repeatedly. The school aims for that repetition to help children absorb vocabulary and become confident story retellers. Nursery reading includes The Gingerbread Man and We're Going on a Bear Hunt, alongside songs such as The Wheels on the bus. Familiar words and repeated stories give children material to join in with and talk about.

Within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), curiosity corners also introduce globes and places around the world through links with animals' habitats. For parents, these examples give a concrete picture of learning through conversation, stories and exploration.

The early years team includes a nursery teacher, an early years lead, higher level teaching assistants and a SEND specialist teaching assistant. These are distinct teaching and support roles within the team, giving families clear starting points for conversations about learning or additional needs.

For concerns about special educational needs or disabilities, the school's first contact is the class teacher or SENDCo. Its support process involves parents in decisions, with targeted help followed by discussion of specialist referrals where further support is needed. Speech and language therapy is one possible referral route. This makes the parent's involvement part of planning support.

Physical access includes a portable ramp for the nursery. Across the school, accessible toilet and changing facilities are also provided. Families whose children need these arrangements have concrete features to consider alongside learning support.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place at St Mary's. Families must make a separate application through Redcar and Cleveland Local Authority, using its Common Application Form and meeting the authority's closing date. Parents applying to the Catholic academy should also complete a Supplementary Information Form: if places are oversubscribed, it helps determine the category in which their application is considered.

Preparation for the next classroom is a separate matter. Nursery and Reception staff work together across the year, helping children become familiar with the Foundation Stage adults. Towards the end of the summer term, nursery children spend two days in their new Reception classroom, including a school dinner in the Lunch Hall. That gives the move a practical rehearsal; it does not secure admission.

Morning sessions run from 8:30am to 11:30am, while afternoon sessions run from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. Those are the nursery times to use when planning collection and other family commitments.

For enquiries, contact the school on 01642 455309. Families and their children are welcome to visit the school, giving them an opportunity to see the setting before applying.