St Augustine's Catholic Primary School Nursery

A reading corner children can choose during free-flow time, and a full-day option that keeps them with the same staff through lunch: these are two defining details of nursery provision at St Augustine's Catholic Primary School in Latchford. It caters for three- and four-year-olds within the school's early years unit.

Inspection context. Ofsted's December 2025 report gave early years the Expected standard judgement, but there were no nursery pupils at the time of inspection. Families should therefore distinguish that early years judgement from an assessment of an occupied nursery.

Books have a place in children's independent choices. Nursery children can use the reading corner daily during free-flow time, with its selection refreshed continually. Adults also read aloud every day. This combines time to explore books independently with opportunities to listen to stories together.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), used alongside Development Matters, shapes the curriculum. In parent language, this brings together learning to communicate, move and manage relationships with early literacy, mathematics, creative expression and understanding the world. Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised is the named phonics programme, with teaching beginning in Nursery/Reception. Speaking and listening receive an explicit focus because they support later reading and writing.

The December 2025 early years findings highlighted vocabulary development and useful adult interaction during guided activities. However, assessment outside phonics did not consistently shape teaching effectively enough. That matters for families: checks need to inform children's next learning steps across the curriculum, rather than concentrate on reading alone. These findings carry the nursery-occupancy qualification above.

Settling starts with a visit alongside a parent or carer, followed by admission arrangements tailored to the child. Nursery staff also invite new parents to a welcome meeting. This gives families an opportunity to discuss the start before regular attendance begins.

For children attending the full day under the thirty-hour model, lunch and snack time stay with the same staff. Parents supply a packed lunch. Home reading records provide another connection between home and nursery: parents can add comments, and adults in school write regularly too.

Additional needs can be discussed before a child starts with the SEND team or Pastoral Lead. The school's support arrangements involve parents in targets and reviews, while its Local Offer identifies wheelchair access and a disabled toilet. These are school facilities, rather than a description of the nursery room.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place or confer priority under the 2027–2028 admission arrangements. Families must make a separate application using their home local authority's Common Application Form. For September 2027 entry, the application deadline is 15 January 2027; the requested Supplementary Information Form is also due by that date for the categories specified in the policy.

Transition support is separate from allocation. The early years team works as a unit, and children have opportunities to spend time with their next class teacher. This supports familiarity with the next stage, while the admissions decision follows its own process.

Entry to nursery is from the term following a child's third birthday, subject to places. The fifteen-hour pattern consists of weekday mornings, 8.45am–11.45am, or afternoons, 12.15pm–3.15pm. Children eligible for the thirty-hour provision attend 8.45am–3.15pm.

The School Office handles enquiries about availability and receives completed nursery application forms. Contact it on 01925 633317 or office@st-augustines-warrington.co.uk. For funding eligibility, the admissions page directs parents to Childcare Choices and My Life Warrington; use those routes to check which entitlement applies to your family.