St Catherine's Catholic Primary School Nursery, Swindon

Colour mixing, storytelling and an outdoor learning space give this nursery its character. St Catherine's takes children from age 3, with a qualified teacher leading learning within the Early Years Framework. The nursery belongs to the Catholic primary school on Davenwood in Swindon; its room is called Florence and has a Nursery Room Lead.

The school places love, peace and service among its Christian values. Nursery children also take part in a Nativity, bringing performance into their early experience of school life.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together children's learning and development. Here, that means exploring materials, developing language and practising early number skills alongside growing independence. Outdoor areas provide another space for nursery learning.

Art starts with experimentation: children mix colours, investigate textures and join materials. Drawing develops towards more detailed pictures and shapes that represent objects. These activities give children ways to communicate ideas before writing becomes established. Design activities include using tools with one hand and choosing resources, with adult help where needed, to work towards a goal.

Books and spoken language have a clear place. Nursery phonics begins with foundations to phonics, while reading activities include suggesting rhyming words and clapping syllables. Children discuss stories and explore factual books too. Number learning includes sorting, counting and play involving shapes and measures, so mathematical ideas have practical contexts.

At the July 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that early-years children were inquisitive, attentive and enthusiastic, with adults extending their vocabulary and engaging them through books. That finding supports the emphasis on conversation and stories in the nursery's learning.

Learning to express feelings is part of care as well as teaching. In July 2024, early-years staff helped children find words for emotions, giving them language to explain how they felt.

For children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the school uses focused support, targeted interventions and outside agencies. Staff work with families to discuss learning needs and how support is monitored. Parents can contact the SENDCo at sendco@stcatherines.swindon.sch.uk; messages for teaching staff go through the school office.

Children staying across both sessions can bring lunch from home or have a charged hot school meal. Parent Pay handles hot-dinner orders. This gives families a choice when planning a whole day.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place and gives no nursery-attendance priority for the September 2027 intake. Families must make a separate application through their home local authority, using its Common Application Form. Swindon families can apply through Swindon Borough Council.

Once the intake is confirmed, transition includes a summer Open Evening for parents and short classroom visits for children. These help families become familiar with the next stage; they are separate from the allocation of places.

Monday to Thursday sessions run from 8:45am to 11:45am and from 11:45am to 3:15pm. Friday's usual day ends at 1:30pm, with an 11:45am finish for 15-hour funded sessions. Families give session preferences, but their preferred pattern is not guaranteed.

Funding options include 15-hour and 30-hour places alongside self-funded attendance. Additional sessions for children with 15-hour funding are charged, but the extra half-hour when attending a full day is not charged. Ask the school for current charges. Nursery training days coincide with the school's.

For enquiries, email admin@stcatherines.swindon.sch.uk or telephone 01793 822699. Nursery applications go to the school office, keeping that process separate from the later Reception application.