Catton Grove Primary School Nursery

Free-flow play and a deliberate focus on language give Catton Grove’s nursery its character. Children can move between their classroom and outdoor learning spaces, while speech and language screening starts as they join. This brings exploration and attention to communication into the same nursery experience.

Provision covers ages two to four within Catton Grove Primary School in Norwich. Caterpillar Nursery serves two- and three-year-olds; Bumblebee Nursery, Butterfly Nursery and Ladybird Nursery serve three- and four-year-olds. These are age-based groups within the school’s Foundation Stage.

At the May 2023 inspection, Ofsted judged early years provision Good. Nursery children, including the youngest attending at two, received attentive care from skilled adults.

Play provides the starting point for learning. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together communication, movement, relationships, early literacy, maths, creativity and exploration of the world. Adults follow children’s interests and plan opportunities to extend their learning, so activities connect with what catches a child’s attention.

Language gets deliberate attention. Adults teach vocabulary and help children bring new words into conversation. Across Foundation Stage, the school aims to develop vocabulary and story writing through Drawing Club and daily vocabulary work, while Read, Write Inc develops awareness of sounds. Maths Meetings revisit counting and calendar language; number songs and counting attendance put maths into familiar routines. These give children repeated opportunities to practise through the day.

Outdoor learning is part of the daily pattern. Nursery children have access throughout the day, and the May 2023 findings describe opportunities to run, dig and climb, developing movement and coordination. Indoors, painting, drawing and experimenting with instruments provide ways to express ideas. Nursery children also take part in music sessions.

Communication support begins early: every child joining Nursery has Wellcomm Screening. Intervention or referral for speech and language support follows where needed, and the school’s Speech and Language team works especially with children in early years. This creates a practical route from identifying a difficulty to providing help.

Each child has a Special Book containing work samples, photographs and observations. Parents can see it and contribute experiences from home, connecting learning across both settings. Class Dojo is the school’s main channel for messages. The school responds to messages sent within working hours from 8am to 5pm; urgent matters go directly to the office.

The school’s food arrangements allow packed lunches, encourage healthy choices and exclude chocolate, sweets and fizzy drinks. Catering for allergies requires an allergen form and supporting medical evidence. Families managing food allergies therefore have a specific process to follow.

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. Treat choosing the nursery and securing a school place as separate decisions.

The Foundation Stage encourages children to learn from one another, with Reception children interacting with peers across the stage. That provides contact across age groups; it should not be confused with an admissions advantage.

Sessional Nursery has a morning pattern from 8:30am to 11:30am and an afternoon pattern from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. The 30hr Nursery timetable combines both, with lunch between 11:30am and 12:30pm. The lunch interval matters when comparing a single session with the longer day.

A Nursery Application Form provides the application route. For enquiries, use the contact form, email office@cattongrove.norfolk.sch.uk or call 01603 426728. Telephone enquiries are handled between 8:30am and 3:30pm.