St Benedict's Catholic Primary School Nursery Review

Dough disco, a Home Corner and stories about Pete the Cat give this nursery a character built around movement, imaginative play and language. St Benedict's Catholic Primary School's nursery caters for children aged three to four on Quebec Road in Warrington. It belongs to a Catholic school, and its nursery curriculum includes religious learning alongside children's social, physical and creative development.

The nursery teacher also holds the SENDCo role and belongs to the senior leadership team. A further teacher and a teaching assistant form part of the nursery team, connecting classroom provision with the school's support structure.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together learning to communicate, managing feelings, movement, early reading and mathematics, creativity and discovering the world. Here, the nursery plan puts exploration and persistence alongside developing children's own ideas. Children have opportunities to try things, encounter difficulties and work out another approach.

Language runs through listening games, rhyme activities and a P4C Question of the week. Literacy follows the EY2P scheme, with books including Bear snores on and The very Hungry Caterpillar. Children retell stories through pictures and role play, discuss characters and try making up narratives featuring themselves. That gives new vocabulary a practical purpose: explaining an idea or carrying a story forward.

Little Wandle rhyme activities sit alongside sound patterns and alliteration. Early writing includes Dough disco and Scribble whilst you wiggle, making movement part of preparation for mark making. White Rose Maths introduces comparing quantities, sorting collections and exploring shapes, with number work extending to five in the nursery plan.

Physical learning includes obstacle activities, balancing and ball games, using equipment both outside and indoors. The Home Corner provides a setting for pretend play; seasonal role play includes a café and Santa's Workshop. Music brings instrument making and body percussion, while art includes self-portraits and printing with hands or feet. These are different ways for children to express an idea before they can write it down.

At the November 2022 inspection, nursery children enjoyed stories and extending their vocabulary, while early years children concentrated during story sessions. The school-level improvement action concerned developing some subject leaders' expertise in checking curriculum delivery and learning; it was not identified as a nursery-specific weakness.

Jigsaw activities address feelings, friendship and caring for the body. Social stories also feature in the nursery plan, giving staff another way to explore situations children may encounter together. Physical development includes practising handwashing, linking independence with everyday care.

For SEND concerns, parents are asked to begin with their child's class teacher. The school's SENDCo offers a Thursday drop-in after school, and further discussions can be arranged through the school. Early Help provides another route for family support, beginning with an informal conversation and potentially leading to an assessment chosen by the family.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply separately through the normal school admissions process. Applications go through Warrington Borough Council's website, with a supplementary Faith Application Form returned directly to the school. Treat that application as a separate step when planning your child's next year.

Nursery enquiries can go to the school office on 01925 234 699 or admin@stbenedicts.warrington.sch.uk. The school is on Quebec Road, Warrington, WA2 7SB.

Vehicle access. The main gates close to vehicles other than staff vehicles between 8:15am and 9:15am, and again between 2:30pm and 3:30pm. Plan collection and drop-off around those restrictions, and keep the zigzag markings and neighbouring residents' parking access clear.