Holy Cross Catholic Primary School Nursery

Families, festivals and a Christmas Nativity give the nursery curriculum at Holy Cross its own character. Children explore who they live with and what makes them distinctive, then learn about religious customs and celebrations. Familiar experiences become starting points for learning.

This is the nursery class within Holy Cross Catholic Primary School on Daiglen Drive in South Ockendon, a Catholic school. Provision includes three-year-olds. The nursery teacher also leads the early years phase, with a support staff member working alongside them.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) shapes learning across seven areas. In parent terms, this brings together movement, communication and relationships with early literacy, maths, creativity and understanding the world.

Children's interests help shape the topic curriculum. Its good to be me explores families, home backgrounds and individuality; Celebrations introduces religious festivals and customs before Christmas activities and a Nativity performed for parents. That gives children concrete subjects to discuss, linking their own experiences with those of other families.

The school's EYFS approach combines play chosen by children with play guided by adults. Children explore, work through problems and practise interacting with others, while adults guide learning and respond to developing interests. Language development runs across EYFS learning, giving conversation a purpose beyond a single language activity.

For children eligible for 30 funded hours, lunch can be a school meal or a healthy packed lunch from home. School meals carry a charge; contact the school for current charges. Families can therefore choose how to organise lunch alongside the longer attendance pattern.

Additional needs can be raised from the nursery application stage, including speech and communication, physical needs, and social or emotional difficulties. Across Holy Cross, SEND support includes visual timetables, extra processing time and a quiet space for children who become stressed. These provide practical ways to make routines easier to understand and manage.

Pupil Support Plans are reviewed in October, February and May and shared with parents through SEN drop-in days. Children with an Education, Health and Care Plan have a communication book for daily updates between home and school. This gives families a regular part in discussing support and progress.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Thurrock Council Admissions and submit the school's supplementary form at the appropriate time. The normal application route uses the Common Application Form from the authority where the family lives; the annual application date is 15 January.

Preparation for starting Reception is a separate matter. Children are invited to an induction visit, when parents can share information about them. The first week then uses either morning or afternoon attendance before a full school day, allowing teachers to get to know smaller groups. That is a settling arrangement, not an admissions advantage.

Families applying for 15 hours can express a preference for a morning place, 9.00am to 12.00pm, or an afternoon place, 12.00pm to 3.00pm. Applications also cover 30 hours, subject to eligibility, with an eligibility code requested. Return the nursery application to the school office with a copy of the child's birth certificate and proof of address.

Nursery uniform combines a light blue T-shirt with a blue school-logo sweatshirt, dark jogging bottoms or jersey shorts, and black Velcro trainers. A hooded waterproof coat and spare clothes kept on the child's peg support everyday care. School visits can be arranged through the office by appointment.