Nursery at St Hugh's CofE Primary School

Two longer days and a Wednesday morning give this nursery a distinctive weekly rhythm. Nursery provision sits within St Hugh's CofE Primary School in Holts, Oldham, with attendance on Monday and Tuesday followed by a shorter session on Wednesday. For families, that pattern is a practical starting point when fitting nursery around work and other childcare.

The school has a Church of England identity. It aims to help children understand Christian beliefs alongside other faiths, placing the nursery within a school community with an explicitly Christian outlook.

Early learning combines mathematics, phonics and music. In the early years, children explore shape, measurement and patterns alongside spatial understanding and a sense of number. Adults guide some learning; other learning happens through the activities provided. That gives the mathematical curriculum both a teaching element and opportunities for children to explore concepts themselves.

Read, Write, Inc. is used for phonics from Nursery onwards. Reading at home accompanies this approach, with RWI books and additional books chosen for reading pleasure. Families therefore have a role in the reading routine beyond the nursery session.

Music has a regular place in the week: Nursery children receive a 30-minute session covering percussion and singing, as well as creating music and performing. The nursery programme, Tune into Talking, regularly invites family participation. This is a concrete way for parents to join an aspect of their child's learning, rather than leaving all curriculum activity to staff.

Settling is approached around the individual child. A full session may be too much initially for a very young child, and staff work with parents to shape the start accordingly. The useful distinction is between the normal attendance pattern and what a child can manage while settling: the starting routine can take account of their needs.

For questions about special educational needs, families can contact the school's SEN co-ordinator through the school telephone number. This gives parents a direct route to discuss support with the role responsible for SEN, alongside conversations about their child's initial sessions.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application even when their child already attends St Hugh's nursery.

Oldham Council allocates Reception places through its co-ordinated admissions scheme. Applications are normally made between October and January for a start the following September. Treat that application as a separate task in the family calendar; joining nursery does not complete it.

Monday and Tuesday sessions run from 8:45am to 3:15pm; Wednesday runs from 8:45am to 11:45am. The shorter Wednesday requires an earlier collection arrangement than the other two days.

For a nursery application form, contact the school office and bring a birth certificate or medical card. The office can be reached on 0161 770 7320 or at info@st-hughs.oldham.sch.uk.

School uniform combines grey skirts, trousers, shorts or pinafores with white polo shirts and royal blue jumpers or cardigans. A uniform swap facility in the front entrance gives families a practical option for obtaining clothing.