St Theresa's Catholic Primary School Nursery Review

Catholic faith shapes the nursery's wider school setting: St Theresa's links its education with Gospel values and respect for other cultures and beliefs. This is the school's own nursery on Prince of Wales Road in Sheffield. For families, the religious character is part of the educational context, rather than simply a label attached to the school.

Listening and learning to respond to instructions are part of the early years experience. In October 2023, Ofsted described young children paying close attention and developing these habits. These are practical foundations for joining activities and learning alongside other children.

The same inspection found that, in most subjects, curriculum planning met children's needs, including SEND, beginning in the early years, while identifying insufficiently defined learning content in some school subjects, including geography and art. That concern relates to curriculum planning across the school; it should not be read as a separate nursery judgement.

Support for additional needs follows the school's Assess, Plan, Do, Review cycle. Parents contribute to planning, and written support plans include strategies, targets and a review date. This gives families a defined process for discussing what their child needs and checking whether the support should change.

Under the school SEND policy, progress is reviewed at least once a term. The class teacher retains responsibility for everyday work with the child, with advice from the SENCO where needed. External services listed in the policy include speech and language therapists and the autism team. These are school support arrangements, rather than a promise that every nursery child will receive a particular intervention.

Emotional support has a route too. The pastoral team helps children facing difficulties with friendships, anxiety or behaviour, so parents have a school team to approach when worries affect learning. Safeguarding procedures include discussing welfare concerns with parents first, except where doing so could work against the child's welfare.

Food routines include a morning snack of milk and fruit for all children in school. The school also provides water fountains for refilling bottles and asks families to send no snacks from home. These practical rules help parents prepare what their child brings each day.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through their home local authority. For entry in September 2027, the application deadline is 15 January 2027.

There is, however, a specific admissions benefit. The 2027/28 arrangements give nursery attendance priority within each admissions category, after exceptional social, medical or pastoral need and sibling priority. It does not move a child into a higher category. Families should distinguish that limited ranking benefit from an assured place.

A Supplementary Information Form is also requested for applications under categories 1 to 3 or 5 to 7. It must reach the school by 15 January 2027; the form accompanies the application rather than replacing it.

For nursery enquiries, contact the school office on 0114 239 7251 or email admin@st-theresas.sheffield.sch.uk. Prospective families are encouraged to arrange a school visit at a mutually suitable time, giving them an opportunity to meet the setting before making their decision.

The school's uniform policy permits clothing without a logo and provides donated items free to families who need help. Clothing should carry the child's name so that misplaced items can be returned.