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Nursery at St Thomas' CofE 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.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 Christian ethos, morning or full-day attendance, and a maximum of 26 children per session define Bright Beginnings, the nursery at St Thomas' CofE Primary School in Stockton Heath. Places can begin in the term after a child's third birthday, if numbers permit. It is part of the school, with its own nursery admission process.
Christian identity shapes the nursery's ethos, although children do not take part in a formal, regular act of worship. That distinction matters for families considering a Church of England setting.
Morning attendance runs from 08:45 to 11:45; a standard full day finishes at 14:45 after the same start time. For children staying all day, lunch is eaten in the nursery. Families can therefore choose a shorter morning or a day that includes a meal, rather than having to book the same pattern throughout the week.
The school says staff adapt learning to children's needs. Emotional awareness also has a named approach: The Present Curriculum teaches mindfulness from Early Years onwards, combining specific lessons with daily practices. This gives attention to thoughts and feelings a place alongside other learning.
Children staying for a full day can bring lunch from home or eat a school meal. Fresh fruit is free at break times for children in EYFS. The lunch choice gives parents a practical way to plan food around their child's preferences.
Across the school, Zones of Regulation helps children recognise feelings and learn ways to manage them. Each classroom has a calm corner to support this work, giving children a physical space to use when emotions become difficult. The school aims to help children understand both their own feelings and those of others.
For families discussing additional needs, the school's support structure includes a SENDCO. Parents are involved in decisions about support for curricular and social inclusion, making their knowledge of their child part of that planning.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. It also gives no priority under the 2027/28 Reception admission criteria. Families must make a separate application through the local authority's online process and complete the school's supplementary form by 15 January for that admission cycle.
The nursery choice and the Reception application need separate planning. Reception places are allocated against admission criteria, rather than automatically carried over from Bright Beginnings. For parents choosing the nursery with future schooling in mind, that is the essential distinction.
Sessions operate five days a week during term time. Families with 15-hours or 30-hours funding can choose mornings, full days or a mixture, subject to a minimum weekly booking of four sessions: two full days or four mornings.
An optional extension takes collection from 14:45 to 15:15. Children attending Link Club require this top-up session; it is charged when additional to funded hours. School meals are also charged. Contact the school for current charges before agreeing the booking pattern.
Nursery clothing is straightforward: children are asked to wear a school sweatshirt with comfortable clothes of their own. Enquiries go to the school office on 01925 268722 or stthomas_primary@sch.warrington.gov.uk. Nursery visits can be arranged by appointment, giving families a chance to consider the setting before applying.
If places permit, children can start at the beginning of the term following their third birthday.
Yes. Families can mix the two, with a minimum booking of four sessions a week, equivalent to two full days or four mornings.
Mornings finish at 11:45 and standard full days at 14:45. The optional top-up extends a full day to 15:15.
No. Nursery attendance gives neither a guaranteed place nor priority under the 2027/28 Reception criteria. A separate local authority application and school supplementary form are required.
A school sweatshirt over their own comfortable clothing.
