St Stephen's CofE School Nursery Review

Indoor learning and Forest provision give St Stephen's Preschool its defining combination. This is the nursery within St Stephen's CofE School on South Meadow Lane in Preston, for children aged 3 to 4. Children can begin in the term following their third birthday, so the starting point follows the term calendar rather than the birthday itself.

At the Ofsted inspection on 15 and 16 November 2023, early years provision was judged Good. That judgement covers the school's early years, including its nursery.

Stories have a clear place in nursery learning. In November 2023, staff regularly read aloud to nursery children and checked their understanding of story vocabulary. The emphasis is on understanding what children hear, giving shared reading a purpose beyond simply finishing a book. Classroom reading spaces were welcoming, with books available for children to explore.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) includes personal, social and emotional development: learning to express yourself, become more independent and work with others. These are foundations for learning here, alongside developing the words children need to communicate.

Forest provision takes learning beyond the indoor space. Further development is an ambition too: the school's 2025/26 plans included developing the preschool outdoor area and seeking Forest School Association accreditation. Those were development goals, rather than confirmation of an accreditation already achieved.

A preschool teacher works alongside the preschool team, with additional adults from the wider school also supporting children. Families receive preschool updates through Class Dojo, and the office helps parents get connected. This gives home and nursery a practical channel for sharing information during the year.

School dinners can be purchased. Families supply spare clothing, wipes and nappies for their child, making these part of the preparation for nursery rather than items provided on site.

For SEND discussions, the school's co-ordinator can speak with families on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays; contact is also possible through senco@st-stephens.lancs.sch.uk. Learning Mentors offer families emotional support and practical help. These provide routes for raising concerns about a child's needs or difficulties affecting family life.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place and does not confer priority under the school's stated oversubscription criteria. A separate application is required, including for children already attending the nursery. Familiarity with the school therefore leaves the admissions process unchanged.

Applications go through Lancashire's local authority route. For the September 2026 intake, the application deadline was January 2026; that cycle is now past. Priority runs through children in care or previously in care, accepted exceptional medical, social or welfare circumstances, siblings, and then distance from home. Families should treat the nursery choice and the Reception application as separate decisions.

Preschool operates during term time for 38 weeks each year. Morning sessions run from 8:45am to 11:45am, afternoons from 12:15pm to 3:15pm, and Full Time provision from 8:45am to 2:45pm. The different finishing times matter when arranging collection.

The standard funded offer is 15 hours. Families working full time with a valid 30-hour code can access 30 hours. Additional sessions can be booked, and lunchtime supervision sits outside both funded allocations. Resources carry no charge; school dinners and wraparound care are charged separately. Contact the school for current charges.

Wraparound care extends from 7:45am to 6pm. Bookings use School Spider, with payment made when booking. For enquiries or a preschool tour, telephone 01772 556306; enquiries can also go to bursar@st-stephens.lancs.sch.uk. A tour offers a chance to see the preschool environment before choosing a place.