Bishop Parker Catholic School Nursery

Play, indoor and outdoor space, and a Catholic ethos define Bishop Parker’s nursery. Its purpose-built setting serves children aged two to four, attached to the school on Hunter Drive in Bletchley. Children of every faith are welcome. For families choosing an early introduction to Catholic education, Christian values shape the provision rather than simply appearing in its name.

Love, service, tolerance and respect are the values named for the nursery. Learning happens through play and interaction, with space both inside and outdoors. That gives the provision a clear identity: a school nursery with its own play-based setting and a place within the wider school community.

Morning, afternoon and full-day attendance give families three ways to organise the nursery day. Within the setting, play and interaction are the stated starting points for learning. Staff adapt learning around children’s interests and needs, allowing those interests to influence what they explore.

The nursery’s older activity galleries give concrete examples of that approach. The gallery labelled 2021–22 includes puzzles and painting, alongside water play, chalking and other mark-making. It also records gloop play and building activities. These are historical examples, rather than a timetable for today, but they show the practical, hands-on character of nursery activities.

Early-years learning also has a planned sequence. Ofsted’s September 2023 inspection found that learning built knowledge from the start of early years, with opportunities to return to earlier learning. For parents, that means activities have a learning purpose as well as giving children something to do.

Phonics teaching was effective from the beginning of early years at that inspection, although wider sharing of phonics training was an identified development need. The distinction matters: early reading teaching had strengths, while extending staff expertise remained work to do.

Individual needs and interests guide the nursery’s approach to adapting learning. This is relevant for children whose starting points differ: the stated approach allows learning to respond to the child rather than expecting everyone to follow identical interests.

Families can send correspondence for the special educational needs coordinator through the school office email. That provides a direct contact route for discussing support. The school also lists a Nappy Changing Policy and an EYFS behaviour addendum among its policies, giving parents specific documents to consult about personal care and behaviour.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place at Bishop Parker. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet the applicable deadline. Treat that application as a separate decision from choosing nursery sessions.

The school’s admissions page links its admission policies and a supplementary form. Read the arrangements for the relevant entry year when preparing the application; familiarity with the nursery should not be treated as an allocation decision.

Attendance is during term time. Morning sessions run from 8:45am to 11:45am, afternoons from 12:15pm to 3:15pm, and full days from 8:45am to 3:15pm. Those timings make the choice between a shorter session and a school-length day concrete for family planning.

Government-funded hours can be used at the nursery, and additional hours are charged. Contact the school for current charges. Prospective parents are invited to arrange a nursery visit, and the nursery page includes a child registration form.

For enquiries, telephone 01908 372129 or email office@bishopparker.co.uk. The nursery is at the school’s Hunter Drive address, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK2 3BT.