St Maria Goretti Catholic Primary School Nursery, Preston

Mornings alongside Reception children give St Maria Goretti’s preschool provision its defining shape. Preschool children join the school’s mixed early years class, rather than a class made up solely of nursery children. That shared classroom is a concrete part of the nursery experience; it does not secure a later school place.

The nursery belongs to a Catholic primary school on Gamull Lane in Ribbleton, Preston. The school aims for kindness and care within a community shaped by its Catholic faith.

Painting and clay give children practical ways to explore ideas. Within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), expressive art and design includes experimenting with materials and practising how to handle and control them. Children can develop their own ideas through the materials provided. This makes creative activity part of learning, with imagination and physical control developing together.

Stories also have a place in the early years curriculum. The school uses the Early Years Framework as a basis for English, alongside learning linked to stories and texts. Its aims include helping children communicate, listen and express ideas, as well as developing reading and writing.

Catholic teaching forms another part of the nursery curriculum. Nursery religious education follows the new Religious Education Directory. The school aims to introduce children to Jesus while respecting each child’s religious identity, a relevant consideration for families choosing a Catholic setting.

Early identification of additional needs starts through the Early Years Framework. The school buys in speech therapist support for assessing needs and, where required, providing individual or group interventions. For a child whose communication needs become apparent early, this creates a route from assessment to planned help.

Support involves parents as well as staff. Across the school, children with special educational needs have Individual Education Plans (IEPs), with progress evaluated each half term and shared with parents. Families can request further conversations through Class Dojo or the school office, giving them a way to discuss targets between meetings.

Medical and intimate care plans are developed with parents, teachers and the special educational needs coordinator (SENCO). Staff receive updates on first aid, including paediatric training. These arrangements matter for families whose child needs care tailored to a medical condition or personal care requirement.

Physical access includes a wheelchair-suitable path from the car park and an accessible toilet in the main building. These are school facilities; families considering access needs have concrete features to take into account.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through their home local authority. For September 2027 entry, the closing date is 15 January 2027, and nursery attendance does not confer priority within that intake’s oversubscription criteria. Treat the Reception application as a separate task, even when a child already attends nursery.

Transition support is a different matter. When children move into Reception, home visits involving the class teacher and SENCO may take place to identify support needs. Children with special educational needs may also be invited for summer visits with their parents. These arrangements concern preparation and support, rather than admission priority.

Preschool attendance is in the mornings. Nursery enquiries can be made through the school’s online enquiry form, by telephone on 01772 700052 or by email to bursar@st-mariagoretti.lancs.sch.uk.

Where needed, a teacher or teaching assistant can hand a child over to the appropriate parent or carer. This school arrangement provides a direct adult handover for families who require it.