English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School, Fenham: Nursery Review

Rhymes, stories and listening carefully to the world around them give children their start at English Martyrs’ nursery. Speaking and listening are central to the provision, with learning taking place in indoor and outdoor classrooms. This is the nursery within a Catholic primary school in Fenham, on Beaufront Gardens, where the school describes Gospel values as shaping its everyday life.

Language provides the clearest picture of what children actually do. From the beginning of Nursery, children practise speaking and listening, pay attention to stories and rhymes, and distinguish sounds around them. Those activities give early learning a concrete focus: hearing differences, following spoken language and building the confidence to communicate.

Indoor and outdoor classrooms both feature in this work. Sound recognition takes learning beyond listening to an adult indoors, giving children different surroundings in which to practise the same skill. These listening activities prepare children for later phonics teaching.

At the January 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that children adapted readily to early-years routines and developed their language with staff support. For parents choosing a first school experience, those findings connect the daily activities with two practical priorities: becoming comfortable with school life and learning to express themselves.

Part-time nursery teachers form part of the teaching team. Families can email the nursery directly, while Tapestry is used to share children’s learning. Class teachers check their email during their weekly planning, preparation and assessment time, so this is a route for ongoing communication rather than an immediate response service.

For concerns about learning or wellbeing, the first conversation is with the class teacher; unresolved concerns can then go to the SEND coordinator. That gives parents a clear sequence for discussing additional support. The school’s family support worker also helps families with attendance, wellbeing and access to other agencies, including support through a voluntary Early Help plan.

The Wellbeing Hub gives all parents and carers free access to resources such as webinars, parenting courses and podcasts. Support therefore extends beyond classroom conversations. On food safety, the school prohibits nuts, including products containing hazelnuts, because pupils have nut allergies; families need to take that restriction into account when sending food into school.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the relevant deadline. Treat the nursery choice and the later school application as two separate decisions, even when hoping to stay at English Martyrs’.

Nursery enquiries can go to nursery@emcps.co.uk. The school office can also be reached at office@emcps.co.uk or on 0191 274 7463, and there is a contact form for general enquiries. The school address is Beaufront Gardens, Fenham, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE5 2SA.

Use the nursery email for communication about your child and the office for general enquiries. Keeping those routes distinct helps families direct their message to the relevant team.