St Norbert's Catholic Voluntary Academy Nursery

A mud kitchen, sand pit and changing indoor play space give this nursery its practical, exploratory character. St Norbert's Catholic Voluntary Academy's nursery is Class 1, part of the school's early years provision in Crowle. Children take part in school life, and the school's policies apply to the nursery too.

Catholic identity sits alongside an emphasis on children's rights. Within early years, children use a Class Charter as they learn about those rights, giving respect for others a concrete place in their play and relationships.

Children choose activities from open-ended play provision and work alongside friends across the early years unit. This gives them opportunities to practise making choices, communicating and building relationships with adults and other children. The nursery emphasises independence and resilience: trying again is part of learning.

Outdoors, the mud kitchen and sand pit provide places for hands-on exploration, while physical activity has its own space. Indoors, the learning environment changes through the year. The balance gives children different ways to explore rather than tying learning to a single activity or room arrangement.

Physical development includes movement, coordination and control, alongside learning about active lives and healthy food choices. Early learning therefore reaches beyond letters and numbers to the skills children use in play and everyday life.

Initial phonics work begins in the nursery's summer term. That introduces early sound work before the next stage of school. At the February 2024 inspection, staff's questions supported children's language development, children cooperated well, and counting included singing 10 Green Bottles. Nursery children also enjoyed adults reading stories aloud. Talk, songs and stories make these early skills part of shared activities.

The early years team includes a class teacher with responsibility for nursery and Reception, alongside an early years practitioner. For children needing additional support, the school has a special educational needs coordinator and a governor responsible for SEND.

Teaching is adapted to individual needs, with targeted support and reasonable adjustments intended to remove barriers to participation. This gives inclusion a practical focus: helping children access learning alongside their peers.

Designated safeguarding leads provide a route for families to raise concerns about children's safety, health or wellbeing. Nursery children come within the school's policies, linking their care to the wider school's responsibilities.

Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Parents must make a separate application through North Lincolnshire Admissions, using the local authority's Common Application Form. Treat that application as a distinct step when planning your child's next year.

Children already participate in wider school life and work alongside others across the early years unit. Those experiences offer familiarity with the school community; they do not secure admission to Reception.

Morning sessions run from 8:30am to 11:30am; afternoon sessions run from 12:00pm to 3:00pm. These are separate session windows to consider against work and collection arrangements.

For nursery enquiries, contact the school office on 01724 710249 or email admin@stnorbertscrowle.co.uk. The school is on Fieldside, Crowle.

Outdoor clothing guidance includes a waterproof coat, wellington boots and a bag for muddy footwear. Label children's clothing and belongings so they can be identified after play.