All Saints' Catholic Primary School Nursery Review

Conversation and outdoor exploration give this nursery its character. At All Saints' Catholic Primary School on Cedar Road in Sale, the Nursery Year forms part of the school's early years provision. Children begin with adults who combine warmth with ambitious expectations for learning.

Ofsted's report dated 3 February 2026 judged early years to be Strong standard. That judgement covers the school's early years provision, rather than a separately graded nursery. Its nursery-specific findings describe supportive staff relationships from the start and learning activities planned to introduce children to new ideas.

Language gets sustained attention. Staff develop vocabulary through purposeful conversations, helping children make sense of their surroundings. The practical benefit is that talking becomes part of learning itself: children have adult help to understand unfamiliar ideas and express what they know.

Outside, the early years learning area supports exploration, working together and physical challenge. This gives children opportunities to develop cooperation alongside movement. The space has a learning purpose, with its organisation supporting those experiences.

Within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), staff draw on their knowledge of individual children to decide what learning comes next. In parent terms, activities respond to a child's development, rather than simply moving everyone through the same tasks. Health education also starts in early years, including learning about toothbrushing and healthy eating. These are practical lessons children can connect with life at home.

Settling involves both adult reassurance and help from older children. Staff give early years children gentle encouragement, while Year 6 pupils help younger children adjust to school. Families receive regular updates about learning and social development, giving them a picture of how their child is progressing beyond the activities completed.

For additional needs, the school's SEND arrangements use Trafford's Graduated Approach: assess the difficulty, plan support, put it into practice and review its effect. Early years identification can draw on family information, previous nursery experience, staff observations and Wellcomm assessments, alongside speech and language professionals.

At SEN Support level, an Individual Educational Plan records provision. The SEND policy provides for progress discussions with parents at least four times each school year, with more frequent meetings according to need. This gives families opportunities to contribute to decisions as support changes. Parents can raise concerns with the class teacher or contact the SENCO through the office.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through their home local authority and also complete the school's application form.

There is a specific, conditional admissions benefit in the arrangements for September 2026 entry. Non-Catholic children attending All Saints' Nursery when applying, whose parents want a Catholic education, sit in priority category four, ahead of other non-Catholic applicants in category five. Higher categories still take precedence. For this entry cycle, families needed to return the School Application Form with the requested information and supporting documentation by the closing date, or their child might not be placed in category four. The deadline for that entry cycle was 15 January 2026, so it must not be treated as a future application date.

The nursery application form lets parents request morning, afternoon, both or either session. A preferred session is a request, rather than a promised allocation, so families should account for that uncertainty when planning childcare.

Applications use a dedicated nursery form. For enquiries, contact the school office on 0161 962 1288 or admin@allsaints.trafford.sch.uk. Prospective parents are invited to look around the school, providing an opportunity to discuss joining in person.