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Nursery at St Leonard's Primary School
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Rhymes, stories and exploration give Leo’s Nursery its character. This is St Leonard's Primary School’s provision for three- and four-year-olds in Stafford, with capacity for up to 26 children in the morning and up to 26 in the afternoon. Those are session capacities, rather than two separate groups guaranteed to be full.
At the Ofsted inspection on 5 and 6 November 2024, early years provision was judged Good. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision, including the nursery. The nursery-specific findings give families something more useful than a label: children developed their language through stories and rhymes, explored ideas through play and became familiar with school routines.
A repeating daily pattern gives children a sense of what comes next. Activities follow a familiar sequence, helping them anticipate favourite parts of the day and begin choosing what they want to explore. Predictability and choice sit together here.
Learning follows the Early Years Foundation Stage framework, alongside a curriculum created by the early years lead. In practice, the nursery findings from November 2024 describe children investigating ideas both with adults and during play. Stories about Diwali prompted enthusiastic conversation, connecting books with speaking and listening. Rhymes and shared stories build the language children will later use in reading.
FFT Success for All Phonics is the school’s named reading programme, aimed at children from nursery onwards. Self-chosen play also has a place: the school sees it as a way for children to sustain attention, persevere and develop relationships.
Natural materials feature indoors, with opportunities to explore in two and three dimensions. Outside, a garden gives children space to play and investigate the natural world, including physical and biological processes. This brings exploration beyond books and adult-led activities.
Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities learn with their peers. In November 2024, this inclusive approach helped children become comfortable with routines quickly. For a family concerned about the first weeks, that is a relevant strength of the early years provision.
The school’s SEND coordinator can be contacted through the office, and the school aims to keep parents involved throughout support procedures. Staffordshire Connects and Staffordshire’s Local Offer provide further routes to information about services and family support.
For the 2026 summer transition cycle, families had an information meeting scheduled for 22 June and a nursery Play and Stay session for 1 July. These were opportunities for families to take part before the new school year.
Attending Leo’s Nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through Staffordshire County Council’s online admissions route. The application deadline is mid January each academic year, so the nursery booking and the Reception application need separate attention.
Three attendance models are offered, subject to availability: five mornings, five afternoons or a full-day place combining both sessions. Mornings run from 8.40am to 11.40am; afternoons from 12.20pm to 3.20pm. The full-day span is 8.40am to 3.20pm.
The morning and afternoon models each cover 15 hours a week; the combined model covers 30 hours. Working parents with a three- or four-year-old may qualify for 30 funded hours. Families taking a 30-hour place without qualifying for that funding are charged for 15 hours of childcare weekly. Contact the school for current charges.
Attendance preferences. Requested hours and morning or afternoon preferences cannot always be accommodated; the headteacher makes the final decision on the pattern and hours. Families need to plan around the place actually offered.
Enquiries can go to the office on 01785 334960 or office@st-leonards-stafford.staffs.sch.uk.
Subject to availability, families can choose five mornings, five afternoons or a full-day place combining morning and afternoon sessions.
Morning sessions run from 8.40am to 11.40am, afternoons from 12.20pm to 3.20pm, and full-day places from 8.40am to 3.20pm.
The morning and afternoon models each provide 15 hours weekly. Working parents with a three- or four-year-old may qualify for 30 funded hours. A family taking a 30-hour place without that entitlement is charged for 15 hours weekly.
No. Families must apply separately through Staffordshire County Council’s online Reception admissions route, with a deadline of mid January each academic year.
Contact the school office on 01785 334960 or email office@st-leonards-stafford.staffs.sch.uk.
