St Gabriel's Catholic Primary School Nursery Review

Weekly music, sports sessions and lunch in the main school hall give St Gabriel's Pre-School a clear connection to school life. This is the nursery provision at St Gabriel's Catholic Primary School on Well Lane in Alsager, with learning taking place indoors and outside. Children also take part in school events and assemblies, making the wider school part of their experience.

Ofsted graded the school's early years provision Outstanding at the inspection on 12 and 13 June 2024. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.

Adult-led activities and play chosen by children both have a place in the day. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) shapes the curriculum: children develop their ability to communicate, manage feelings, build relationships and look after themselves alongside early learning in numbers, literacy, creativity and the world around them. Planning and observations are used to support their development, so learning extends beyond completing a particular activity.

ASM Sports sessions take place weekly, with an emphasis on developing large movements and physical skills. Rhythm Time also runs weekly, bringing music, rhyme and rhythm into children's learning. These give movement and musical expression their own regular place alongside structured activities and free play.

Community walks connect learning themes with places beyond the nursery. Visitors include vets, nurses, doctors and police officers, while a fire engine provides another concrete introduction to the people who help others. These encounters bring the wider world into children's experience rather than leaving it solely as a classroom topic.

Catholic learning has a named programme, too. The Vine and the Branches begins in early years, with themes including Creation and Covenant and Dialogue and Encounter. Its topics follow the religious calendar, connecting learning with the school's faith.

Settling into school life was quick for early years children in June 2024, giving parents some reassurance about that first adjustment. Lunch has a practical role as well: pre-school children eat in the main school hall, becoming familiar with the routine they will encounter when they start school.

For families with SEND questions, the school's SENCO can be reached at senco@stgabriels.cheshire.sch.uk, with appointments arranged through the school office. That gives parents a direct route to discuss their child's needs.

Safeguarding administration. In June 2024, safeguarding across the school was effective, but weaknesses in record keeping limited oversight and could hinder children receiving the support they needed. There was no immediate risk of harm identified. Families should weigh that administrative concern alongside the early years judgement.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline; an expression of interest should not be treated as securing a place.

Shared experiences serve a different purpose. Eating in the school hall, attending assemblies and joining school events introduce children to school routines. That familiarity supports the move into school life, but it must be kept separate from the decision about allocating Reception places.

Nursery enquiries can go directly to preschool@stgabriels.cheshire.sch.uk or 01270 875770. The school also welcomes visits by appointment, giving families an opportunity to see classrooms and discuss joining. General office enquiries can be sent to admin@stgabriels.cheshire.sch.uk. The address is Well Lane, Alsager, Stoke-on-Trent, ST7 2PG.