Nursery at St James' Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale

Two-year-olds are part of the early years provision at St James’, alongside the school’s nursery provision for three-year-olds. This is a nursery within a Catholic primary school on Ashurst Road in Skelmersdale. Its character is best understood through the younger children’s relationships and routines: in February 2023, children established friendships and connections with teachers quickly, then learnt how their classrooms worked.

Ofsted graded the early years provision Good following its inspection on 22 and 23 February 2023. That judgement covered the early years, including the two-year-old provision; it was not a separate nursery inspection. For parents, the findings offer a dated picture of children beginning school life together.

Classroom routines give the day a recognisable shape. In February 2023, early years children picked these up quickly and followed them sensibly. That matters for a young child learning to take part in a group: knowing what happens in the classroom helps make its expectations familiar.

Language is a central part of the evidenced classroom experience. Most early years teachers demonstrated communication effectively, and adults supported learning during the different activities children undertook indoors. The emphasis is on interaction as children participate, with teachers helping learning along within the classroom. For families considering an early start, this is the most concrete picture of the nursery day: activities, adult conversation and routines learnt alongside other children.

In February 2023, curriculum planning included the two-year-old nursery class. The youngest children were therefore part of the school’s planned learning sequence.

Relationships are the clearest care finding. In February 2023, early years children, including two-year-olds, soon built positive connections with adults and one another. Learning routines and getting to know teachers happened together. For a child starting group provision, both matter: familiar adults provide a relationship to build on, while familiar routines help the classroom become understandable.

The school describes belonging and faith as central to its identity. It aims for children to feel heard, safe and valued, and names compassion, forgiveness and respect among its values. This gives families a sense of the Catholic setting surrounding the nursery, separately from the dated findings about younger children’s daily experience.

Attending this nursery does not guarantee a place in the school’s Reception class. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet the applicable deadline.

Treat the nursery choice and the Reception application as two decisions. Familiarity with the school, its adults and its classroom routines should not be mistaken for an entitlement to a later school place.

The nursery is based at St James’ Catholic Primary School, Ashurst Road, Ashurst, Skelmersdale, WN8 6TN. The school can be contacted on 01695 728 989 for nursery enquiries.

For families weighing up this provision, the decisive practical distinction is its place within the school: nursery attendance begins here at two or three, while admission to Reception remains a separate process.