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Nursery at Wakefield St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
A ten-second pause for a child to answer captures the character of St Mary's early years: conversation has time to develop. Adults use pictures, objects and gestures alongside speech, giving children different ways to join in. Language runs through the nursery's approach to play and learning.
This is the nursery within Wakefield St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School on Charles Street. Provision includes two-year-olds, while eligible three-year-olds can take up the school's 30-hour nursery offer. It belongs to the school's early years unit, with communication and personal development prominent in its curriculum.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Development Matters guide the learning. In parent language, that means building movement, relationships and communication alongside early reading, number work, creativity and understanding the world. Children apply new learning through activities they choose themselves as well as planned independent tasks. Play has a teaching purpose.
Elklan training gives adults a shared approach to communication. OWL, meaning Observe, Wait, Listen, encourages them to pause and notice what a child is doing before responding. They expand children's spoken sentences with extra vocabulary and adapt their language to individual needs. Objects and pictures support children who do not communicate verbally, so participation does not depend entirely on speech.
Number learning includes songs and counting rhymes, with nursery children learning what numbers represent. Early years music introduces singing and sound exploration, including pitch, pulse and rhythm. These are practical beginnings: children can hear, repeat and explore ideas rather than meet them only as abstract concepts.
Outdoor play takes place daily in the EYFS physical development programme, alongside indoor games that develop coordination, strength and balance. Early years geography includes repeated visits to Eastmoor community gardens and Thornes Park, connecting seasonal changes with familiar local places.
At the March 2023 inspection, Ofsted highlighted early years' emphasis on spoken communication and described nursery children learning to blend colours. Language and practical exploration are clear threads in those findings.
Reading mornings, shared play and target-setting sessions bring parents into early years learning. They also provide opportunities to exchange information about the child, linking experiences at home with those in the unit. Families are encouraged to add photographs from 50 things to do Before you're five activities to their child's Learning Journal.
The school's inclusion approach covers children with SEND and those learning English as an additional language, with provision adapted to their needs. Within early years, adults adjust their speech and use visual communication. That gives inclusion a concrete everyday form.
Potty-training resources are offered in Punjabi and English. Wider family support can be accessed through school via Wakefield Families Together, providing a route to help with concerns about children or family life.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet the relevant deadline. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for school as separate decisions.
Morning nursery sessions run from 8:30am to 11:30am; afternoon sessions run from noon to 3pm. The nursery timetable describes three hours daily and 15 hours weekly. Since 23 February 2026, the school has also offered 30-hour places for three-year-olds who qualify for that funding.
For the 30-hour offer, call 01924 303625 or take the child's passport or birth certificate and funding code to the school office. General enquiries can also go through the contact form or office@stmaryswakefield.co.uk.
Nursery uniform includes black jogging bottoms or a black skirt, a white polo shirt and a red cardigan or sweatshirt, with plain and logo versions accepted for the red layers. Drop-off uses classroom doors and a one-way route around the back of school, making that route part of the daily routine.
Morning sessions are 8:30am to 11:30am, and afternoon sessions are noon to 3pm.
Yes. Since 23 February 2026, the school has offered 30-hour nursery places for three-year-olds entitled to that funding.
Adults have completed Elklan training. They allow time for responses, expand children's vocabulary and use objects and pictures to support non-verbal communication.
No. Families need to apply separately for Reception through the normal admissions process.
Call 01924 303625, email office@stmaryswakefield.co.uk or use the school's contact form.
