St Patrick's Catholic Primary School Nursery Review

Conversation, confidence and learning through play set the direction at St Patrick's nursery. Communication and language, alongside personal, social and emotional development, receive particular attention from the nursery years. For a child beginning group learning, that puts expressing needs and building relationships alongside acquiring new knowledge.

This is the nursery provision at St Patrick's Catholic Primary School on North Road in Wellington, Telford. Children can join from the term after their third birthday, with entry points in September, January and April. Its Catholic character also reaches the early years curriculum through religious education.

Children have time to pursue their own interests as well as take part in activities directed by adults. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together language, physical development and social skills with early reading, mathematics, creativity and understanding the world. Here, planning follows an enquiry approach, giving vocabulary development a place within children's exploration.

The early years teaching programmes include Read Write Inc for early reading and White Rose Maths, which uses objects and models to explore mathematical ideas. Religious education follows The Way, The Truth and the Life. These sit alongside play: adults use children's interests and individual needs to plan what comes next, rather than treating exploration as a break from learning.

Indoor and outdoor classrooms both contribute to the curriculum. Children have opportunities to return to experiences and practise what they have learnt, with equal weight given to learning in each space. Regular forest school sessions, trips and visits also form part of the early years offer. The practical attraction is a day that moves between adult guidance, independent exploration and learning outdoors.

Getting to know a child begins before they start. Staff gather information from parents and previous settings, including earlier learning journals, to understand the child's starting point. Observations and conversations then help shape experiences during the first half term. That gives family knowledge a practical role in planning.

Tapestry Online Learning Journal records achievements and next steps. Observations are shared with parents and carers, who can contribute to their child's journal too. It creates a two-way connection between learning at nursery and experiences at home.

For children with special educational needs or disabilities, the school's approach includes working with parents and involving outside agencies where appropriate. Its stated aim is early identification of needs and participation in school life. Full-time nursery attendance also carries a straightforward daily requirement: children bring a packed lunch.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place at St Patrick's. Families must make a separate formal application through Telford & Wrekin Council and return a supplementary information form to the school. Familiarity with the setting does not replace that application.

The council sets the closing date, usually in mid January for the following September. Treat this as a separate deadline to plan for while your child attends nursery, rather than expecting a place to follow automatically.

Opening hours are 8:45am to 3:15pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery timetable is offset from the school day to make collection easier for parents, a useful consideration for families collecting siblings.

The nursery offers the universal 15 hours of funded childcare and 30 hours for eligible families. A nursery team member can discuss the offer and arrange to show families around. Contact the school on 01952 386160 or email admin.stpatricks@blessedec.co.uk. Nursery application forms are completed and returned to the school office.