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Nursery at St Ambrose Catholic 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
A purpose-built nursery gives St Ambrose’s youngest children a distinct starting point within this Catholic primary school in Adswood, Stockport. Entry begins in the term following a child’s third birthday. The nursery is part of the school itself, so families choosing it are also choosing a Catholic school setting from the outset.
Morning places form the core offer, with funded full-time attendance for eligible families and paid extensions also possible. That makes the choice partly about the pattern of care your family needs, as well as the learning on offer.
Stories and language give the nursery day a concrete focus. Ofsted’s inspection on 18 and 19 July 2023 found that nursery children encountered rhymes, books and traditional stories. These provide early experiences of listening and storytelling before children move further into reading.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets out learning across seven connected areas. Talking and listening, relationships and emotional development, and physical skills sit alongside literacy, mathematics, creative expression and understanding the world. For parents, this means learning includes managing feelings and developing movement as well as working with words and numbers.
Playing and Exploring, Active Learning, and Creating and Thinking Critically are the named learning characteristics. Children investigate, persist when something proves difficult and work out their own approaches. The emphasis is on how children learn, alongside what they learn.
There is an important curriculum caution. In July 2023, some early-years learning lacked sufficiently clear content and vocabulary, leaving teachers uncertain about essential knowledge. Some children were consequently less ready for the next stage of their learning. The required action was to clarify the content and sequence across every learning area. This matters alongside the breadth of the EYFS offer: coverage needs a clear progression.
School Spider Parents is the communication app families use for school messages. Registration uses the email address held by the school, making an accurate contact record a practical part of keeping up with information about your child.
Food arrangements allow a school meal or a lunch brought from home. EYFS children receive fruit free of charge, and Cool Milk handles milk orders directly. Families changing between packed lunches and school meals must give a week’s notice, so lunch arrangements need some advance planning.
For SEND concerns, the class teacher is the first contact, with the SENCO providing further support through appointments arranged by the office. The school’s support model includes adapting the curriculum for individual needs and working with parents and professionals. Team Around the School brings together Stockport Family and other agencies, with access to a family help coordinator, linked social worker and school nurse for participating families.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal Reception admissions process; nursery children do not transfer automatically. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as two separate decisions.
The school assesses learning throughout the year and passes children’s next learning steps between teachers as they move on. That supports continuity in teaching. It does not change the separate admissions process.
The funded part-time pattern is 15 hours over five mornings each week. Eligible parents can claim the school’s 30-hour childcare offer; families can also pay to extend attendance into the afternoon. Contact the school for current charges.
January and April nursery intakes are offered, with early-intake children currently joining the morning provision. Nursery applications are completed online through the Stockport Admissions link. For enquiries, contact the office on 0161 480 8466 or email admin@st-ambrose.stockport.sch.uk. School visits are welcomed, giving families an opportunity to see the setting before deciding.
Children can start in the term after their third birthday. January and April intakes are also offered.
No. Nursery and Reception admissions are separate, and children do not transfer automatically. Families must apply separately for Reception.
The part-time offer is 15 hours across five mornings. The school also offers 30 hours for children whose parents qualify.
Yes. Children can have a school meal or bring a packed lunch. Give one week’s notice when changing between the two; contact the school for current meal charges.
Speak to your child’s class teacher first. Further support from the SENCO can be arranged through the school office.
