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Nursery at St Alban & St Stephen Catholic Primary School & Nursery
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Acorns Class has an outdoor environment reserved for Early Years and a Catholic identity shared with the wider school. The nursery at St Alban & St Stephen occupies the lower site on Vanda Crescent in St Albans, alongside the school's younger classes. That is the address families need for nursery enquiries and visits.
Children can start in the term following their third birthday, subject to space. For September 2027, capacity is the equivalent of 37 full-time nursery places, rather than a simple headcount of children attending different sessions. The school aims to provide a Catholic education throughout its provision; families should choose the nursery with that shared ethos in mind.
Play and adult-led learning both shape the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum. In parent language, children have opportunities to pursue their interests alongside teaching that introduces new skills. Staff use observations and assessment to decide what comes next, connecting the day's activities to what children already know.
Indoor and outdoor learning sit alongside structured work in mathematics, religious education, early writing and reading, and phonics. The Early Years learning zones include construction, water, sand and painting. These give the curriculum a practical dimension: children can explore materials and ideas as well as take part in teaching led by adults.
Geography starts with familiar places and experiences. Books with geographical themes and play help children explore the world; the EYFS skills include talking about seasons and weather, using simple maps and making plans of imagined or real places. This brings early geographical language into activities children can recognise. Photographs and observations of EYFS learning are recorded through Tapestry, while a year-group floor-book captures humanities learning and children's contributions.
A nursery teacher leads Acorns Class, within an Early Years team that includes an EYFS Phase Lead and a Play Lead. Before children begin, the school aims to visit them at home or in their existing nursery to learn about their preferences and support needs. Children are also invited to spend time at school before starting, giving them a chance to become familiar with staff and surroundings.
For children who find joining more difficult, extra visits and My New School booklets use photographs of important people and places to make the change more concrete. Families of children with SEND are encouraged to meet the SENDCo before starting so support can be planned together.
Additional support follows a cycle of assessment, planning, action and review. Parents help develop Individual Learning Plans and discuss provision at termly meetings. The school consults families before seeking help from outside agencies, keeping parents involved in decisions. Milk for children under five is fully funded; families can register through Cool Milk.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place and does not confer an oversubscription priority. Families must make a separate application through their home local authority, using its Common Application Form or online admissions system.
For September 2027 Reception entry, the deadline is 15 January 2027. Families seeking consideration under the relevant faith criteria must also return the school's Supplementary Information Form with supporting documents by that date. The nursery and primary school share their ethos and work closely together, but that relationship does not replace the application process.
The 2027–28 options are five mornings, 08:45–11:45; five afternoons, 12:15–15:15; or the 30 Hours option, Monday to Friday, 08:45–15:15. Families indicate their preferences on an Options Form. Oversubscribed options are allocated using the nursery admission criteria.
The full-day pattern includes a charged final session beyond the 30-hour funded entitlement. Additional paid sessions may become possible once numbers are confirmed. Ask the school for current charges. Families using the 30-hour entitlement must reconfirm eligibility with an 11-digit code every three months.
Contact the office at admin@ssas.herts.sch.uk or 01727 866668 for enquiries or to arrange a tour. A visit to the lower site gives families a practical way to consider the nursery's surroundings before choosing their session pattern.
Children are eligible from the start of the term after their third birthday, provided spaces are available. September is the main intake.
There are five morning sessions from 08:45 to 11:45, five afternoon sessions from 12:15 to 15:15, or the 30 Hours option from 08:45 to 15:15, Monday to Friday.
No. Nursery attendance neither guarantees a place nor gives an oversubscription priority. A separate application must go to the home local authority. For September 2027 entry, the deadline is 15 January 2027.
The school aims to visit children at home or in their current nursery before they start. Children are invited into school beforehand, with extra visits and My New School photograph booklets for those who find the change more difficult.
Email admin@ssas.herts.sch.uk or call 01727 866668 to arrange a tour through the school office.
