English Martyrs’ Catholic Primary School Nursery, Sunderland

A Nursery garden of its own gives English Martyrs’ nursery a practical point of difference. The nursery aims to shape learning around children’s interests. This school-based provision has 52 places for children aged 3–4. It sits within a Catholic primary school on Redcar Road in Sunderland.

Nursery and Reception occupy a purpose-built Foundation Stage area. For a young child, the practical attraction is the combination of a spacious indoor learning space and a garden belonging to the nursery, rather than a classroom alone.

Play is the starting point for learning. The nursery aims to build on what children already know and what interests them, so their existing skills help shape the learning offered. Its named approach is the Development Matters Framework, published in 2023, within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The focus includes language, movement, social and emotional development, alongside early mathematics, literacy, creativity and discovering the world.

In everyday terms, this means learning to communicate and manage relationships matters alongside learning about numbers and writing. An example from the shared Nursery and Reception topic, Ourselves, involved making faces with loose parts on the Fingergym and assembling bodies from felt pieces. These are concrete ways to explore themselves through materials and play.

Reading has a physical home, too. Each class has a weekly library slot, with children choosing a book to share at home. That gives families something chosen by their child to enjoy together.

In February 2025, early-years children enjoyed learning and developed curiosity and independence. Communication and number work received particular attention. These findings concern early years across the school, rather than a separate nursery judgement.

The nursery aims to get to know children as individuals and work with families to understand their needs. Its emphasis on children’s interests gives parents a useful starting point for conversations about what their child enjoys and how they are developing.

The February 2025 inspection found that early-years children managed classroom routines and group interaction well. For parents considering a first group setting, this offers relevant evidence about children’s adjustment to the social side of the day.

My Happy Mind is taught from Nursery onwards. Its modules include appreciate, relate and meet your brain, giving wellbeing a named place in learning. Classroom wellbeing trees are used for daily checks.

For developmental concerns, parents can approach the class teacher or SENDCo before a diagnosis. Support follows assessment, planning, intervention where needed and review with families.

School catering comes from Chadwick’s Kitchen. Staff accommodate medical diets in partnership with parents; packed lunches are permitted, with nuts and products containing nuts excluded.

Attending this nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Sunderland City Council’s school admissions service. For September 2027 entry, the deadline is 4:30pm on Friday 15 January.

The shared Foundation Stage accommodation places nursery within the same early-years setting as Reception. That physical connection should be considered separately from admissions: it does not secure the next place. Apply through the normal route even if your child already attends nursery.

Two three-hour sessions are offered: mornings run from 8:45am to 11:45am, and afternoons from 12:15pm to 3:15pm. There are 15 and 30 hour places. These are the useful starting points for matching nursery attendance to family routines.

For enquiries, contact the school office on 0191 548 8330 or email office@englishmartyrssunderland.org.uk. Visits can be arranged through the office, which can also provide current charges.

The school’s uniform includes red sweatshirts or cardigans, white polo shirts, grey trousers, skirts or pinafores, and black shoes. Preloved uniform can be obtained through the office. Families needing breakfast childcare should factor in its age restriction: the school breakfast club accepts children from Reception to Year 6.