St Mary's Catholic Primary School Nursery Review

Family history, daily number work and a Catholic education give this nursery its character. St Mary's takes children from age three at its primary school on Manor House Road, Wednesbury. The school aims for Catholic belief and practice to shape children's education, while families of other faiths or none can also apply. That ethos is a practical consideration for parents choosing their child's first school experience.

Learning starts with familiar things: children themselves, their families and the changes they see around them. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) work includes All About Me, which uses seasons, birthdays and celebrations to explore how time passes. Understanding the World means helping children make sense of their surroundings and community. These are approachable starting points for talking about change.

Number learning has a daily place in the nursery. Children follow the school's own Number Sense Map, with focused teaching each day; staff record learning electronically through Evidence Me. This gives number work a regular rhythm rather than leaving it to occasional activities.

Across the school, the learning approach involves returning to skills, discussing texts and applying knowledge through practical work. In November 2024, Ofsted found that the early years team gave children chances to rehearse their learning and was developing an environment that supported conversation. The implication for the nursery day is straightforward: teaching is followed by opportunities to try things again.

Nursery teachers work within an early years structure that includes an EYFS lead. In November 2024, children in early years were comfortable, content and prepared to engage with learning. This is a dated picture of how children were settling into the learning environment, rather than a promise about an individual child's start.

For additional needs, the school's support process involves the class teacher and special educational needs coordinator (SENCO). Parents can discuss concerns with staff, contribute to a support plan and receive a written decision about SEN support. Assessment, planning, action and review form a continuing cycle, allowing support to change with a child's needs.

School support includes speech and language therapy, with a therapist attending on Fridays. A sensory room is also among the school's SEND resources. These are school-level arrangements; provision for an individual child depends on their needs.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place and does not confer priority. Families must make a separate application, and children are considered against the same admission criteria whether or not they attend this nursery. Familiarity with the school does not change that process.

Apply through the local authority where you live, naming St Mary's as a preference. A Supplementary Information Form also goes directly to the school. For entry in September 2026, both applications had a deadline of 15 January 2026; that admissions cycle is now past. Families should follow the normal application timetable for their child's entry year.

For 2025-2026, morning sessions ran from 08:45 to 11:45 and afternoon sessions from 12:15 to 15:15, each offering 15 fully funded hours. Those arrangements also offered 30-hour funded places and additional paid hours subject to availability. Contact the school office to confirm current session times, funding arrangements and charges.

Before attendance begins, parents complete and sign forms giving the child's personal details. Nursery enquiries go to the school office on 0121 505 3595 or office@st-marys.sandwell.sch.uk. The office operates from 08:15 to 16:15 on school days in term time. Visits can be arranged through the office, giving families an opportunity to explore the setting before choosing it.