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Nursery at St Christopher's Church of England School, Cowley
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
A purpose-built nursery room, a large outdoor area and weekly Forest School visits give St Christopher’s nursery a clear physical identity within its Church of England primary school in Cowley. Children have their own entrance from the school car park, so the nursery has a distinct access point within the wider school site.
The provision serves three- and four-year-olds, with entry possible from a child’s third birthday. Ofsted graded early years provision Good at the inspection on 11 to 12 June 2024. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision rather than a separately inspected nursery.
Outdoor learning is a regular part of nursery life. Every nursery child visits the onsite Forest School each week, alongside access to the nursery’s large outdoor area. These are two separate opportunities to spend time outside: the nursery’s own space and a named learning area within the school grounds.
Across the school, Forest School uses activities led by children, with adults planning and supporting opportunities to solve problems and work together. Children contribute ideas about what they would like to do in future sessions. The school aims to build familiarity with nature through practical experiences, giving outdoor learning a purpose beyond a change of scenery.
Families choose a morning, afternoon or full-day pattern. The full-day option includes lunchtime, while the shorter sessions give children a consistent morning or afternoon attendance pattern across five days.
For children attending the full-day nursery option, parents provide a packed lunch each day. St Christopher’s is nut-free: lunches must exclude nuts and products containing them. Families should also leave chocolate and sweets out of packed lunches. Food allergies and specific dietary needs can be discussed with the school office.
Additional needs are supported through the school’s graduated SEND approach, with provision adjusted to the individual child. Examples include small-group or individual teaching, multisensory materials and visual prompts. Timetables and now-and-next cards can help make the sequence of the day understandable.
Parents contribute to identifying needs through regular meetings. The class teacher is the first contact for concerns, with the SENCo also available. This gives families a direct route to discuss difficulties and help shape support.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process; Oxfordshire County Council handles Reception places. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for school as separate decisions.
For children with SEND, the school offers additional transition visits when changing class or school. Time in a new classroom before the year ends and personalised social stories can help children become familiar with different rooms and adults. These are support arrangements, separate from the allocation of a Reception place.
Three attendance patterns are offered: full days from 8:45am to 3:00pm across five days, five mornings from 8:30am to 11:30am, or five afternoons from 12:00pm to 3:00pm. The morning and afternoon options each provide 15 funded hours. The 30-hour option depends on eligibility and the nursery receiving the family’s entitlement code.
Funding begins in the term following a child’s third birthday. Parents can choose a paid start from the third birthday until funding begins; contact the school for current charges.
To arrange a nursery visit, call the school office on 01865 779772. The office can also be contacted at office.3252@st-christophers-pri.oxon.sch.uk. A visit offers families a chance to see the nursery room and outdoor space before choosing their attendance pattern.
The nursery serves three- and four-year-olds and accepts children from their third birthday. It does not admit two-year-olds.
Families can choose five full days, five mornings or five afternoons. Full days run from 8:45am to 3:00pm, mornings from 8:30am to 11:30am, and afternoons from 12:00pm to 3:00pm.
Yes. All nursery children visit the school’s onsite Forest School area each week. The nursery also has a large outdoor area.
Children attending the full-day option need a packed lunch each day. It must contain no nuts or nut products, and families are asked to exclude chocolate and sweets.
No. Reception requires a separate application, and places are handled by Oxfordshire County Council through the normal admissions process.
