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Nursery at St Catherine's Catholic Primary School (Hallam)
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Mud, model-making and children choosing how to play give St Catherine’s nursery its character. This is Foundation Stage 1 (FS1), the nursery provision within the Catholic primary school on Firshill Crescent in Sheffield. Children attend from age three. There are 26 places allocated part time, accommodating a total of 52 children.
Independence runs through the day, from choosing creative materials to dressing for outdoor play. In December 2022, Ofsted found that early-years staff understood children’s needs and offered independent activities that reinforced teacher-led learning. That finding covers the school’s early years rather than a separate nursery judgement.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings care and learning together for children up to five. Here, Planning in the Moment means adults watch what interests a child and extend the learning as play unfolds. A model made with Numicon, for example, can become a conversation about the numbers represented by its holes. Children’s choices give staff a starting point for teaching.
Creative play has tangible materials: a station for making play dough, powder paint, cardboard tubes and musical instruments. Children can return to their creations and change them, rather than completing a single adult-directed craft. Nursery maths develops understanding of numbers 0–3 through play, with games supporting counting and recognising quantities at a glance.
Outside, a large water area gives children space to investigate. Sand and mud introduce measuring and problem-solving; bikes, climbing and moving heavy objects bring physical challenges. Outdoor play continues in all weather. Waterproof clothing matters here.
Language receives deliberate attention. Adults expand children’s vocabulary during play, and each child has a speech and language assessment. Makaton, visual prompts and objects accompany speech, giving children several ways to understand and communicate. Daily stories are complemented by a song, story, rhyme or poem sent home each week, so families can share familiar material beyond the session.
Each child has a key worker, providing a consistent relationship for the child and family. Familiar resources, areas and routines help make the setting predictable, while Zones of Regulation gives children a way to recognise and manage feelings. Handwashing, toileting and getting dressed for outside are also taught as developing skills.
Fruit and vegetables are available for children to help themselves, alongside water or milk throughout the day. Making toast and baking can become part of play. A daily tooth brushing club adds another practical care routine. For children attending full days, eligibility for free meals and milk depends on the family’s financial circumstances. Caterers accommodate medical diets through a process arranged with the school office.
Parents contribute to learning journey scrapbooks. A focus week each term brings closer observation, followed by information shared with home; termly parents’ evenings discuss development and next steps. SEND support includes an assistant SENCO for EYFS, work with the 0-5 SEND Team and termly support-plan reviews involving parents. This gives families a defined part in planning and reviewing help.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Sheffield City Council’s Co-ordinated Scheme for Admission Arrangements, following that process’s closing date. The school also requires an Additional Information Form by the closing date; that form alone is not an application. Treat choosing nursery and applying for Reception as two separate decisions.
Four core attendance patterns cover 15 hours of free provision per week. Five mornings run Monday to Friday, 8.45am–11.45am; five afternoons run 12.30pm–3.30pm. The start-of-week pattern combines Monday and Tuesday, 8.45am–2.45pm, with Wednesday morning, 8.45am–11.45am. The end-of-week option pairs Wednesday afternoon, 12.30pm–3.30pm, with Thursday and Friday, 8.45am–2.45pm.
Additional hours can be offered to children with extended entitlement. Breakfast Club begins at 8.00am, and children on the start- or end-of-week patterns can extend their full days to 3.30pm. Contact the school for current charges. Nursery places start in September; enquiries and application forms go through the school office, which can also arrange a look around.
Collection arrangements. Children leave only with someone on their parent-supplied contact list. Keep that list updated when another adult will collect.
Children attend from age three, with nursery places offered for a September start.
No. Reception requires a separate application through Sheffield City Council’s co-ordinated admissions process.
The four core options are five mornings, five afternoons, a start-of-week pattern or an end-of-week pattern. Additional hours can be offered where children have extended entitlement.
Yes. EYFS children play outside in all weather, so suitable waterproof and warm clothing is important.
Parents contribute to learning journey scrapbooks, receive focus-week information and discuss development and next steps at termly parents’ evenings.
