St Thomas' Catholic Primary School, Sevenoaks: Nursery Review

Songs, stories and visits to local care homes give this nursery a character that reaches beyond the classroom. Children join from age 3, becoming part of an integrated nursery class within St Thomas' Catholic Primary School in Sevenoaks. It is a school setting from the start, with a Catholic identity and opportunities for even its youngest children to take part in community life.

Ofsted judged the school's early years provision Outstanding at the inspection on 10 and 11 June 2025. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating. The nursery-specific detail is more useful than the headline alone: stories and songs introduce children to reading, while care-home visits involve sharing activities with residents.

Language gives the learning a clear starting point. Nursery children encounter phonics through games with words and rhyme, alongside songs and stories. Staff across the school have training in Little Wandle: Letters and Sounds Revised. For a parent, the important distinction is the nursery's playful introduction: children begin by listening to and exploring language.

Poetry also starts young. From age 3, children learn verse through singing and rhymes. Each class has a reading area, giving books a physical place in the learning environment. These details put listening, speaking and familiarity with books into the nursery experience.

Mathematical learning follows the Early Years Foundation Framework, with early understanding of measurement, space, shapes and numbers as its focus. In June 2025, children in early years could identify animals' particular habitats, and staff's precise use of language helped them talk confidently about their learning. Early learning here includes explaining ideas, as well as acquiring knowledge.

Support sits within the school's SEND arrangements. Class teachers meet the SENCO and headteacher to review children's progress each term, then plan and review provision. Depending on need, children may have an individual provision plan or support through an Education Health Care Plan. This creates a process for identifying needs and adjusting help.

For children with individual provision plans, parents meet the class teacher three times a year to discuss those needs. The school directly employs both an occupational therapist and a speech and language therapist. Families therefore have scheduled opportunities to discuss support, with specialist roles within the school team.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Kent County Council, or their home council if they live elsewhere, using the Reception Common Application Form. A Supplementary Information Form goes separately to the school, with baptismal or other faith evidence where applicable.

Treat that application as a distinct step. Joining the nursery and applying for Reception are separate decisions, even though the nursery is integrated into the primary school.

Nursery applications go directly to the school office. Processing takes place in January or February before the September start, so families should build that timing into their plans.

For nursery enquiries and applications, email nursery@st-thomas-sevenoaks.kcsp.org.uk or telephone 01732 453921. The school is on South Park in Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 1EH.