St Mark's CofE Primary School Nursery Review

A weekly question and a linked book give learning its starting point at St Mark's nursery. This is the school's own nursery class, based separately from the main primary site, within Shelton Family Hub on College Road. That split matters for families: the nursery day takes place at its own address, while familiarity with the main school develops through transition visits.

The nursery has a teacher in charge and a home-school link worker. Its provision forms part of the school's Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). At the Ofsted inspection on 15 and 16 October 2024, early years provision was graded Good. That judgement covers the school's early years provision rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Learning follows the Learning Challenge Curriculum, with activities organised around a book connected to a weekly question. In parent language, this gives children a shared topic to explore through their early learning, rather than treating each activity as an isolated task. The school aims to develop curiosity and independence through this approach.

Mathematics has a nursery-specific starting point: Master the Curriculum provides the stimulus for teaching. Early writing includes making marks and talking about their meaning, with recognisable letters introduced as children begin learning letter formation. These are concrete steps towards expressing ideas on paper. Kapow Primary Art and Design also extends into early years, giving creative learning a named framework.

In October 2024, early years teaching emphasised vocabulary and language. Children received direct teaching of knowledge and skills, then rehearsed these through play. There was a qualification to that positive picture: the sequence of learning was less clear in some areas, leaving uncertainty about how securely it prepared children for later learning. Curriculum sequence. Planning across subjects needed to account more fully for early learning. For parents, the concern is how activities connect and build over time.

Nursery children are included in the school's SEND approach. Support can involve individual teaching or small groups, alongside a pupil passport developed with parents and children. Termly passport reviews give families a recurring opportunity to contribute to targets and support decisions.

Speech and Language Therapists, Educational Psychologists and Occupational Therapists are among the specialist services working with the school. Children with medical conditions receive a Health Care Plan developed with families and relevant health professionals. These arrangements make support a shared responsibility rather than something confined to the classroom. The SEND coordinator can be reached through the school office.

Lunch occupies the period from 11:45am to 12:45pm in the nursery timetable, separating the morning and afternoon parts of the day.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the deadline for their child's intake. Keep that application separate from nursery attendance and transition activities.

During the final half term in nursery, children make weekly transition visits to become familiar with the main site and Reception staff. For a class based elsewhere, repeated contact has a clear practical purpose: the next setting and its adults become familiar before the move. These visits help children prepare for the move; they do not guarantee a Reception place.

Doors open at 8:50am, registration is at 9:00am and nursery finishes at 2:50pm. The timetable gives 30 hours in a typical week. Families need an adult to collect their child promptly and must notify the office when collection will be by someone different.

For nursery enquiries, contact nursery@stmarks.orchardct.org.uk or telephone 01782 237125. The nursery address is Shelton Family Hub, College Road, Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 2DQ. Use that address when planning the daily journey.