Nursery at St Lawrence's Catholic Primary School

Play, vocabulary and half-term themes shape the nursery at St Lawrence's Catholic Primary School in Byker. This is the school's own nursery class, within its Early Years provision on Headlam Street. Its curriculum gives communication and language particular attention, alongside the beginnings of reading, writing and mathematics. For children, that means learning to express ideas as well as exploring them.

Catholic faith forms part of the school's educational character. The school aims to make kindness, respect and tolerance part of how children treat one another, giving families a clear sense of the values surrounding nursery life.

Half-term themes connect learning across subjects rather than treating each activity as an isolated task. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum brings together physical development, feelings and relationships, communication, literacy, mathematics, creative expression and understanding the world. In parent language, the day is about developing movement, conversation and independence alongside early academic skills.

Play gives children opportunities to investigate their interests. Adults plan experiences that extend what children already know, with teaching approaches chosen around their learning needs. The emphasis on vocabulary matters here: children need words to explain discoveries, describe feelings and join conversations.

At the September 2023 inspection, nursery children enjoyed stories connected to their learning, while early-years mathematics included different ways to explore number and deliberate attention to mathematical vocabulary. The same inspection identified a concern for the school's earliest readers: practice books included unfamiliar words that hindered fluent reading. That concern should be distinguished from the nursery's listening and story activities.

A nursery teacher providing maternity cover and a part-time nursery teaching assistant form the nursery staffing structure. Additional learning support includes small groups across EYFS, taught by teachers or teaching assistants with specialist training. Tasks can be divided into smaller steps, allowing children to work on skills at a pace suited to their needs.

Feelings have also been explored through stories and creative work. In February 2022, nursery children used Titch to discuss how they had grown and what they could now do, then decorated balloons and identified people who supported them. This gave an abstract idea, emotional growth, a concrete starting point for conversation.

Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. Newcastle upon Tyne's local authority coordinates school admissions on behalf of Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust, the admissions authority.

Shared activities are a separate matter from admission. In June 2021, nursery and Reception children took part together in circle activities, music and ring games in the school hall. Such contact gives children experience of learning alongside the next year group; it should never be treated as securing a place.

Nursery starts at 8.45am and ends at 3.15pm, except on Wednesday, when collection is at 11.30am. The shorter Wednesday needs its own childcare planning. Breakfast club eligibility starts with older children, and after-school clubs serve Reception to Year 6, so those arrangements do not extend the nursery day.

For enquiries, contact the school office on 0191 265 9881 or email office@stlawrencesprimary.org.uk. Prospective parents and carers can also contact the school to arrange a visit.