St Mary's The Mount Catholic Primary School Nursery Review

Three-hour sessions, play indoors and outside, and a strong emphasis on conversation give this nursery its character. At St Mary's The Mount Catholic Primary School in Walsall, children aged three to four attend part time within the school's Foundation Stage. A nursery teacher works within a structure that also includes a Foundation Stage manager.

Ofsted judged the school's early years provision Outstanding at its inspection on 1 and 2 April 2025. That judgement covers the early years as a whole. The nursery belongs to a Catholic school, so families are choosing a setting where faith forms part of everyday learning.

Play and practical activity carry the learning. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework brings together communication, physical development and emotional development alongside early reading, mathematics, creativity and understanding the world. In parent terms, learning involves doing and talking, with planned play taking place both outside and indoors.

Language is a clear strength. In April 2025, adults' skill in extending children's speech supported frequent conversations with a learning purpose. The nursery's learning environment had plentiful resources that drew children into activities. Children developed the confidence to explore and do things independently. For parents, that gives the play-based approach a clear purpose: building communication and independence alongside early knowledge.

Physical learning includes practising catching and throwing, jumping and running. Early years children also have weekly Balance- ability sessions delivered by an external provider, giving movement skills a regular place in their learning. The Foundation Stage uses Rhino Readers alongside other texts matched to children's phonics knowledge; Twinkl is the school's phonics scheme.

Catholic learning has tangible features too. Each classroom has a prayer table, while the nursery's prayer bag focuses on Bible stories and can go home for a week. CAFOD animal mascots are used in early years to introduce Catholic Social Teaching. These give families concrete ways to share the setting's faith-based learning at home.

Settling starts before the September intake, with children and parents invited to a nursery taster session. Further visits can be arranged individually when needed. In April 2025, early years children adapted readily to routines and treated one another kindly, supporting a calm start to group learning.

For additional needs, the school has a SENCo and assistant SENCo. Families can begin by speaking with their child's teacher. The school uses visual timelines and basic Makaton signs, and its Rocket room provides personalised learning with teaching assistant support for some children. Individual SEND targets are reviewed with families each term, keeping parents involved in decisions about support.

School meals are prepared by an in-house catering team, with food cooked daily and menus designed for this school. Safeguarding information reaches families through a termly newsletter covering advice, local concerns and routes to support.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the local authority's coordinated admissions process; the governing body considers applications against the admission criteria. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as two separate decisions.

Class transitions have their own preparation. Information is handed to the next teacher in advance, and children make preparatory classroom visits. Where appropriate for children with SEND, a transition plan and photographs in a transition book help families prepare for the change. These practices support familiarity; they do not secure admission.

Morning nursery runs from 8:45am to 11:45am, with the afternoon session from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. Nursery children can also attend Breakfast Club between 7:30am and 8:50am, or After School Club from 3:15pm to 5:15pm. Both clubs charge per session, and application forms come from the school office. Ask the school for current charges.

Nursery applications go to the office using the nursery form, accompanied by a copy of the child's birth certificate. Enquiries can be made on 01922 720711 or at postbox@st-marymount.walsall.sch.uk.

Families use a separate nursery gate and stay with their child until handing them to the teacher. Nursery uniform includes pale blue tops and royal blue clothing, with seasonal options. Name clothing clearly and keep Wellington boots at school for wet weather. Badges are optional, and the school has a pre-loved uniform shop.