St Gregory Primary School Nursery Review

Pips Class gives St Gregory’s youngest children a session-based start to school life, with 26 places in the morning and another 26 in the afternoon. The nursery belongs to St Gregory Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School on Church Street in Sudbury. These are session capacities, rather than a count of individual children attending.

Children can start in the term after their third birthday, subject to space. For families choosing between shorter sessions and additional care, the distinction matters: nursery teaching, lunch and wraparound clubs have separate hours and funding arrangements.

Story time and listening for sounds within words are concrete starting points for learning here. At the December 2022 inspection, Ofsted found nursery children participating eagerly in stories and developing their awareness of word sounds. That gives parents a useful picture of early literacy: listening and joining in come before formal reading.

The early years foundation stage (EYFS) connects learning through activities with preparation for the subjects children will encounter next. In December 2022, early years children followed familiar routines confidently and explored classroom activities, including freeing numbers from ice before grouping and counting them. This example brings mathematics into a practical task, combining exploration with recognising and comparing numbers.

Morning nursery runs from 8:45am to 11:45am; the afternoon runs from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. Lunchtime Club occupies the interval between them. Families can therefore distinguish the learning sessions from the separately charged care that extends the day.

Settling begins with a home visit from the nursery teacher. An informal conversation about a child’s interests and needs gives the team a starting point for getting to know them.

For 2025-2026, Pips Class had teaching and support staff. Parents can contact the class at nursery@st-gregory.suffolk.sch.uk, while ParentMail carries school messages and calendar information. These provide separate routes for class contact and general updates. The school office also connects families with the special educational needs coordinator and safeguarding leads. A ramp provides access to the school building, a practical feature for families with mobility needs.

Food depends on the care booked. At Lunchtime Club, children may bring lunch or have a school dinner ordered through the office. Breakfast is included when attending Breakfast Club. After School Club supplies a snack, with examples including toast, fruit or biscuits, and squash; it does not provide a meal. Families using later care should plan their child’s evening food accordingly.

Attending this nursery does not guarantee a Reception place at St Gregory. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet the normal deadline. Choosing Pips Class should therefore be a decision about the nursery experience itself, rather than an assumption that the next school place is secured.

The 15 funded weekly hours can cover five sessions, using mornings or afternoons. The minimum booking is 15 hours, and parents agree the term’s hours by signing a PAF form. Some children qualify for a further 15 funded hours; additional sessions are charged where that entitlement does not apply, with payment due half a term ahead.

Additional care. Funding excludes Lunchtime Club, Breakfast Club and After School Club. Each carries a separate charge. Breakfast Club is available for nursery children from 7:30am to 8:45am, and After School Club from 3:30pm to 5:00pm. Contact the school for current charges.

For enquiries and nursery application forms, contact the office on 01787 372418 or admin@st-gregory.suffolk.sch.uk. Children must be brought and collected by a responsible adult older than 16.