St Teresa's Catholic Primary School, Preston: Nursery Review

Learning to take turns, recognise emotions and prepare for reading gives St Teresa's nursery its clearest character. This is nursery provision within the Catholic primary school in Preston, with care and early learning closely connected. Children develop independence alongside the social skills they need to spend time with others.

The educational picture needs careful consideration. In November 2025, Ofsted judged early years as Needs attention. That judgement covers the school's early years provision; it is not a separate nursery rating. For families, the distinction matters: positive care sits alongside curriculum weaknesses requiring action.

Preparation for reading is a specific strength of the nursery's learning offer. Children acquire the preliminary skills needed before learning to read. This gives their early education a clear purpose, alongside learning how to share time and attention with other children. Independence, turn-taking and an emerging understanding of emotions are also part of their development.

Language teaching needs more consistency. In November 2025, parts of the early years curriculum lacked sufficient clarity about the knowledge children should acquire. Staff were not consistently using sufficiently effective conversations to develop vocabulary and language. These weaknesses matter because everyday exchanges with adults should help children build understanding, rather than leave learning to chance. In November 2025, these curriculum weaknesses left some early years children unprepared for their next stage of learning.

Leaders had begun making changes, but their effect could not yet be established. The required next steps were to finish revising the early years curriculum and make purposeful adult interaction a consistent part of children's learning. For a parent weighing this nursery, the important educational question is how clearly staff connect an activity or conversation to what a child needs to learn. The concern reaches beyond the choice of activities to the teaching within them.

Care presents a more positive picture. In November 2025, nursery children were happy and received good care. Their growing independence and practice in taking turns support participation in a group; learning to recognise emotions also helps them begin to understand themselves and others.

Relationships with families receive deliberate attention from the start. Leaders work to establish trust with parents and carers, creating a way to help families whose circumstances make supporting education more difficult. Regular attendance is one example. The practical value is a relationship through which difficulties can be addressed early, alongside the child's learning and care.

Attending this nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the applicable deadline. Treat choosing nursery provision and applying for Reception as two separate decisions, rather than assuming that one settles the other.

The school is on Downing Street, Preston, PR1 4RH. Nursery enquiries can be made through the school on 01772797397.