St Thomas and St Anne CofE Primary School Nursery

Morning, afternoon or a whole day: three session patterns give this nursery a practical flexibility within the school week. Children can join from the term after their third birthday and stay until school age. The nursery operates during term time, Monday to Friday, in Hanwood, Shrewsbury.

Fir and Saplings brings nursery and Reception together in the school's class structure. That places the nursery within the school's early years provision. The wider school's Christian values include respect, kindness and courage, giving families a clear sense of its intended character.

Language, independence and learning alongside others are central to the early years experience. At the March 2023 inspection, children were found to settle promptly and become independent, while adults demonstrated considerate behaviour and clear speech. These are practical foundations for children learning to express themselves and manage relationships.

Outdoor play has a named approach: the school uses OPAL, meaning Outdoor Play and Learning. Children direct their play through their own ideas and interests. Adults watch and may take part to extend an activity or help with a skill, while leaving children room to make decisions.

The school's outdoor activities include nature exploration, building, running and climbing. Its grounds are used for play across different weather conditions, with waterproof clothing and spare footwear part of the preparation. For families, this means outdoor clothes are everyday equipment rather than something reserved for an occasional outing.

Close relationships with home support settling. In March 2023, early years staff gave attentive individual care, and regular communication with families helped children gain independence. The connection matters beyond the first few sessions: home and nursery both contribute to helping a child feel settled.

Lunch depends on the session chosen. Children attending in the afternoon or for the whole day may bring a packed lunch or order a hot school meal. The hot meal carries an additional charge. Families therefore have a choice of lunch arrangements when booking either of these patterns.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. A separate application must go through the Admissions Team at Shropshire Council, with a deadline of 15 January before the year in which the child is due to start school. Choosing nursery and applying for Reception are separate decisions; families need to plan for both.

The Fir and Saplings nursery and Reception class structure is relevant to continuity within early years. It must be kept separate from the admissions question: being part of that class structure does not secure a later place.

Morning sessions run from 8:50am to noon; afternoons run from noon to 3:20pm. The whole-day option spans 8:50am to 3:20pm. All three sit within the Monday-to-Friday, term-time model, so families need to match the school calendar to their childcare needs.

Families can use their 15 or 30 hour entitlement here. Additional attendance hours are charged and invoiced monthly; contact the school for current charges. Nursery enquiries can be made through the Nursery Place Enquiry Form. Visits can also be arranged through the school office on 01743 860400 or admin@hanwood.shropshire.sch.uk.

For outdoor play, the school asks children to have two pairs of shoes and either a waterproof coat or a puddle suit. Clothing needs to allow for muddy play.