St Clare's Catholic Primary School Nursery, Preston

Books, conversation and a farmyard built from bricks give St Clare’s early years its character. Little Saplings Pre-School is the nursery provision within St Clare’s Catholic Primary School in Fulwood, Preston. Its setting is Catholic, with the school welcoming families of other faiths as well as Catholic families.

Ofsted’s March 2026 inspection judged the school’s early years to meet the Expected standard. That judgement covers the early years provision within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.

Language gives the learning its direction. In March 2026, the early years curriculum had clearly chosen vocabulary, skills and knowledge for children to develop, with communication receiving particular attention. For parents, that means conversation is part of the learning itself. Adults and children exchange ideas, while books and storytelling help children prepare for learning how letters represent sounds.

Play also turns experience into understanding. When staff recognised that some children had little familiarity with nature, they arranged a farm visit. Afterwards, children chose bricks to create their own farmyard and talked together about the animals that could belong there. The activity connected something they had experienced with construction, imagination and conversation. It is a concrete example of staff responding to a learning need rather than simply supplying an activity.

There is a teaching point to weigh alongside these examples. In March 2026, staff needed further support to choose the content, timing and methods of teaching consistently effectively, including in early years. Families should consider that qualification alongside the positive picture of children enjoying their activities.

By March 2026, children in early years were comfortable in the setting and keen to participate. Adult relationships were affectionate, and children were becoming more capable of attending to their own care needs. Independence develops through these everyday tasks as well as through planned learning.

Partnership with families was another positive early years finding. Staff and parents worked together for children’s benefit. For children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), the school’s support arrangements include help from the class teacher and teaching assistant, individually or in a small group. Individual Educational Plans involve parents, with reviews each term. However, the March 2026 inspection found that school-wide progress monitoring for children with barriers to learning, including SEND, was sometimes fragmented, leaving staff uncertain about what to teach next. Leaders needed to improve these systems to guide subsequent teaching. Lancashire’s Inclusion and Disability School Service and Educational Psychology Service can contribute where appropriate, bringing specialist input to the support process.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process by the applicable deadline. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for school as two separate decisions.

Preparation for starting school includes a parent meeting in May/June, followed by three classroom visits for children to become familiar with staff, peers and their surroundings. Staff also make a home visit. These activities help children get to know their next setting; they do not secure admission.

The school office is the enquiry route: telephone 01772 787037 or email bursar@stclares.mecmat.org. St Clare’s is on Sharoe Green Lane in Fulwood, Preston, PR2 9HH. Use those contact details for nursery enquiries and keep the separate Reception application in your family’s planning.