St Margaret Ward Catholic Primary School Nursery Review

Preparation for early reading gives this nursery a clear educational focus. At St Margaret Ward Catholic Primary School on Cherry Lane in Sale, the Nursery class sits within the school's early years provision. Its purpose includes getting children ready to begin learning how sounds connect with written words.

Ofsted graded early years provision Good at the inspection on 21 and 22 November 2023. That is an early years judgement within the school inspection, rather than a separate nursery rating.

Learning follows a planned sequence. In November 2023, the early years curriculum had clear organisation and ambition, with activities generally designed to connect new learning to what children already understood. For a young child, that means building knowledge step by step.

Early reading preparation is a specific Nursery focus. Children also became familiar with routines quickly, and their behaviour in early years was exceptionally good. Predictable routines give children a structure for taking part in learning.

Vocabulary needs attention. In some learning areas, the choice of specialist words for children and younger pupils needed further thought in November 2023. This slowed some children's understanding of new ideas. Language development therefore deserves attention alongside preparation for reading.

Additional needs should be discussed before a child starts Nursery. The school's SEND arrangements ask families to share these early so staff can organise provision in advance. This makes the joining conversation a practical opportunity to explain communication difficulties, medical needs or other support a child requires.

The class teacher is the first contact for concerns, with the special educational needs coordinator available through the office. Support follows the Graduated Approach: staff assess needs, agree a plan, put it into practice and review its effect. Parents contribute to these decisions, and specialist referrals require their permission.

School SEND reviews take place three times a year. Provision maps explain a child's support, while targets are shared through Seesaw. These give parents something concrete to discuss as needs change. For children with long-term medical conditions requiring medication or personal care, an Individual Healthcare Plan brings together family, school and relevant health professionals.

Physical access also matters. The school occupies a level site with wheelchair entrances and toilets fitted with handrails. The hall has steps, but a separate external entrance provides wheelchair access. Families can discuss their child's access needs against these specific features.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Trafford Council and complete the school's Supplementary Information Form. Treat this as a new application, rather than an automatic move with the Nursery class.

Class changes also involve a handover between teachers, including information about support strategies and resources. For children with an Education, Health and Care Plan, the school's arrangements include a summer-term meeting involving parents, current and next teachers, support staff and the SEND coordinator. That continuity of information is separate from securing a place.

Register interest in Nursery through the form on the school's admissions page. The office can be contacted at office@smwprimary.net or on 0161 969 9852.

For families considering the school who have SEND questions, visits can be arranged by appointment to discuss a child's needs with the SEND coordinator or headteacher. This provides a route to planning support before the child starts.