Blessed Mother Teresa's Catholic Primary School Nursery

Relationships and growing independence give this nursery its character. It forms part of Blessed Mother Teresa's Catholic Primary School in Highfields, Stafford, where the early years provision combines carefully chosen learning activities with close relationships between staff, children and families.

Ofsted's May 2026 inspection judged the school's early years provision to be Strong standard. That judgement covers early years rather than a separately inspected nursery. The detail matters: children settled readily, developed confidence with adults and other children, and learned routines that helped them take part in classroom life.

Learning in the early years brings together conversation, number work and increasing independence. Adults select activities and resources to match what children need to learn, giving classroom tasks a clear purpose. The emphasis is on children becoming capable participants in their learning, with support from adults who know them.

Conversation carries much of the teaching. Staff use their exchanges with children to build language, helping them develop the communication skills needed to engage with adults and one another. Number learning receives similarly careful attention: children develop an understanding of number values and number bonds, connecting numbers with what they represent.

Classroom routines also have a practical role. Children learn how to take part, respond to expectations and work alongside others. They interact considerately and show persistence during both play and learning. For parents, that means the early years experience attends to everyday habits as well as knowledge: joining in, keeping going and becoming more independent.

Settling rests on staff getting to know children and their families promptly. Those relationships help children become comfortable with daily school life. Personal greetings are part of that approach, giving children individual recognition and helping establish a familiar connection with adults.

Support for learning begins early too. Staff identify obstacles, including special educational needs and disabilities, so that children's needs can be recognised as they begin their education. Adult interaction supports language and mathematical understanding alongside this attention to individual needs. The practical benefit is a connected approach to care and learning, with relationships helping staff understand the children they teach.

Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply separately for Reception through the normal admissions process and meet the applicable deadline. Choosing the nursery should therefore be a decision about the child's nursery experience, with the later school application treated as a separate step.

The nursery belongs to the Catholic primary school on Somerset Road, Highfields, Stafford, ST17 9UZ. This places the provision within a school setting; families considering it should keep the nursery decision and their subsequent Reception application distinct.