St Philip's CofE Primary School Nursery Review

Listening, books and learning to belong give this nursery its character. At St Philip's CofE Primary School in Salford, Nursery sits within the school's early years provision, with 24 full-time places listed on its admissions page. The school's intake begins at age three. Its Church of England identity includes links with St Philip's Church, giving families a clear sense of the setting's religious character.

Ofsted graded early years provision Good at the inspection on 19 and 20 September 2023. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Listening comes before fluent reading. In September 2023, adults in Nursery deliberately developed children's listening, while the early years curriculum set out the knowledge and skills needed for later learning. For a parent, this means preparation starts with paying attention and understanding, rather than simply recognising printed words.

Read Write Inc provides the early years phonics approach: children work on connecting sounds with written words. Books also have a physical place in classroom life. Each class has a reading area containing poetry, factual books and fiction, giving children different kinds of text to explore.

Movement has its own place in the routine. Nursery appears on the PE timetable on Mondays and Wednesdays, and children wear PE clothing on those days. Shared reading extends learning into family life as Nursery's first homework activity. The Early Years Home Learning page also suggests counting household objects, drawing and games involving turns. These are ideas for home, rather than a description of classroom sessions, and give parents practical ways to join in.

Relationships matter at this age. For parents concerned about starting school, Ofsted's September 2023 findings offer reassurance: early years children had adults they trusted, felt safe and built friendships. Settling was quick, too. Before starting, families can use a virtual school tour and the Nursery meet-the-teacher material to begin getting familiar with school life.

Tapestry gives parents a record of early years learning and updates about the day. Staff can also discuss concerns informally at the start of the day, with appointments for longer conversations. This gives families both a regular window into learning and a route for more detailed discussion.

Food follows school arrangements: morning bagels are provided for all children, fruit for those under seven, and daily milk for children under five or receiving free dinners. Lunch orders use Evolve and must be placed by Sunday at 5pm for the following week. The school excludes nuts, an important rule when preparing packed food.

For children with identified SEND, the school's Individual Education Plans set learning targets, with teachers and support staff organising activities and interventions around them. Parents can contact the SENCO team through the office.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process; the school's admissions page directs applications to Salford LA Admissions. Treat choosing Nursery and applying for Reception as two separate decisions.

Full-time Nursery places are the listed model. For enquiries or a visit, contact the school office on 0161 566 7359 or email stphilips.ceprimaryschool@stphilipssalford.co.uk. Enquiries about looking around are welcome.

School uniform includes a navy jumper, white T-shirt and dark skirt or trousers with black shoes. A Pre-loved Uniform Cupboard in the main reception area provides donated clothing, offering families a practical reuse option.

After-school care. The independently run provision on the school premises excludes Nursery children. Families needing care beyond the nursery day should factor that restriction into their plans.