St Barnabas' Church of England Aided Primary School Nursery

Stories, action rhymes and a reading corner children can choose during free flow give St Barnabas’ nursery a clear emphasis on language. Listening comes first. Adult guidance sits alongside activities led by children, making early reading preparation part of a broader nursery experience.

The nursery belongs to the school’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provision on Hart Street in Oxford’s Jericho area, with children joining from age three. Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 18 and 19 March 2025. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised supplies the approach to early reading. In nursery, its foundations involve poems, shared stories, action rhymes and games that develop attention and listening. Oral blending means hearing spoken sounds and putting them together into a word. These activities prepare children for later reading while giving speaking and listening their own space.

Within the EYFS, the nursery combines experiences chosen by children with those directed by adults to develop communication, language and literacy. The reading corner is accessible each day during free flow, and its books change regularly. Children can therefore return to familiar reading routines while encountering different books. Adults also read to children daily.

In March 2025, children in early years maintained their attention and worked cooperatively, learning to take turns and share. Early writing included practising letter formation and using known sounds to make words. Together, these details show learning that involves both individual concentration and working alongside other children.

Individual needs are identified when children join nursery. In March 2025, support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) included tailored changes to learning and resources to aid vocabulary recall. The practical purpose is access to the curriculum: support responds to the child’s needs rather than expecting every child to approach learning in the same way.

Communication about books has a regular channel. Nursery children have a home reading record in which parents or carers can leave comments; school adults contribute regularly too. This gives families and staff a way to exchange observations about reading. The safeguarding team also includes an EYFS lead trained in designated safeguarding leadership.

Separate application. Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply again through Oxfordshire County Council’s normal Reception application route by the normal deadline. Treat this as a separate step in your child’s education, rather than an automatic continuation of the nursery place.

Preparation for the next stage includes the nursery’s listening, language and oral blending activities. These build foundations for learning about letters and sounds later; they are educational preparation and confer no guarantee of admission.

Children qualify for 15 funded hours from the term following their third birthday; some qualify for 30 hours. For children entitled only to 15 hours, an additional 15 hours of paid wraparound care is offered. This gives those families an option to extend their nursery provision. Contact the school for current charges.

Nursery applications go directly to the school, with application forms obtained through the office. Enquiries can be made on 01865 557178 or by emailing office.3832@st-barnabas.oxon.sch.uk.