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Nursery at St Swithun Wells Catholic Primary School
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Play, early language and Catholic storytelling give this nursery its character. Children join after turning three, within St Swithun Wells Catholic Primary School in South Ruislip. The September 2026 nursery intake had 30 places, matching the capacity described on the nursery information page.
Morning attendance forms the common foundation, with selected full days extending the week for families who want them. Ofsted graded early years provision Good following its 28 and 29 February 2024 inspection. That judgement covers the school's early years provision rather than a separately inspected nursery.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings learning into play and practical activity. Language development includes listening, speaking and understanding; personal and social learning helps children cooperate, develop confidence and manage feelings. Physical learning takes place indoors and outside, developing movement, coordination and control. These are foundations for participating in a group as well as learning new skills.
Early literacy includes daily practice in joining sounds for reading and separating them for spelling. Mathematics uses hands-on activity and mathematical language to introduce number and ideas about shape and space. Art, drama and music give children ways to express feelings and ideas. Nursery Autumn Walks provides a named example of exploring beyond the classroom.
Catholic religious education uses To Know You More Clearly. Stories, creative work and role play introduce Catholic celebrations and symbols, alongside awareness of other beliefs. The approach gives young children ways to ask questions and connect learning with their experiences.
In February 2024, early years children sustained their attention for lengthy stretches of learning. One observed activity involved adults and children acting as firefighters to retrieve a teddy from a tree: imaginative play involved staff joining the children's activity.
Starting nursery includes a planned induction programme for children entering the EYFS. Families also have access to preparation resources about nursery independence and separation anxiety, giving them practical themes to work on before the first sessions.
The 2025/26 staffing pattern divided nursery teaching across the week, with teaching assistant support in the morning and afternoon. For additional needs, the school's inclusion approach emphasises identifying needs early and working with parents. Families can arrange a discussion with the inclusion leader and SEND coordinator through the office, providing a direct route to discuss support.
Lunch needs planning at home. Nursery children bring a packed lunch; the school's meals guidance excludes nursery from its free school meals provision. Families choosing full days therefore need to prepare food as part of the daily routine.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal Reception process for their child's entry year.
For September 2026 entry, the route was Hillingdon Admissions through eAdmissions, with a deadline of 15 January 2026. Those dates belong to that past intake. The Reception arrangements for that cycle did not give nursery attendance priority: allocation followed the listed oversubscription categories, including Catholic faith, care status and sibling criteria. Familiarity with the school must therefore be kept separate from admission entitlement.
Every child attends the morning sessions. These run from 8:30am to 11:30am and cover the 15 funded hours. Full days finish at 3:30pm. Families choose which days to extend, but must retain those choices throughout the term so staffing can be planned.
Eligible families can use the 30 funded hours scheme; additional hours can be purchased by families who do not qualify. Ask the school for current charges, following the fee change announced for September 2026.
Use the nursery gate on Crest Gardens for drop-off between 8:30am and 8:40am. Morning collection is promptly at 11:30am; the full-day collection window runs from 3:15pm to 3:30pm. Nursery children wear uniform, and belongings should be labelled. Direct enquiries to the admin team at admin@ssw.school or 01895 808194.
Children enter after their third birthday. The September 2026 intake was for children born between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2023.
Yes. Morning sessions run from 8:30am to 11:30am. All children attend every morning; families may choose full-day extensions on selected days and keep that pattern for the term.
Nursery children bring their own packed lunch. The school's free school meals provision does not apply to nursery.
Attendance does not guarantee a place. The September 2026 Reception criteria did not include nursery attendance as a priority, and a separate Reception application was required.
Contact the school office at admin@ssw.school or 01895 808194 to arrange an appointment with the inclusion leader and SEND coordinator.
