Kilby St Mary's Church of England Primary School Nursery

Story time, number practice and learning to communicate give this nursery review its clearest starting point. The nursery belongs to Kilby St Mary's Church of England Primary School on Main Street in Kilby. Its place within a church school gives families a wider setting with an explicitly Christian identity: the school describes an ethos in which each child is valued and known individually.

In the inspection dated 7 January 2026, Ofsted judged the school's early years provision to meet the Expected standard. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.

Communication and language are central to early learning here. Children enjoy stories, practise early number skills and build foundations in writing and reading. These are concrete ways of preparing for further learning: listening to a story, using language and returning to number work all have a place in the early years curriculum.

The curriculum sets out the knowledge children should retain, with learning adjusted to their needs. In January 2026, children were achieving well and prepared for their next stage. For parents, the useful distinction is between simply taking part in activities and developing knowledge through them. Here, the early years findings support both progress and preparation for what follows.

Adult conversation is also a teaching tool. Some staff interactions extend children's communication effectively, but that quality is uneven. Developing consistently effective exchanges, especially for children who need them most, remains an improvement priority. This matters in a provision where language development has such a prominent role.

Knowing the children is a clear strength of the early years team. In January 2026, staff understood them well, and children were settled, happy and keen to learn. Work with parents and carers supported children's move into school, connecting the start of their education with the adults who know them at home.

Support is also reflected in the early years findings for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Learning was adapted effectively to individual needs, and these children were thriving. That gives families a positive picture of inclusion within early years, while the concern about uneven adult interactions remains relevant to children needing additional help with communication.

Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet the normal deadline. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as two separate decisions.

The positive findings about children's preparation for their next stage concern learning and development. They do not establish an admissions entitlement.

The school office handles general enquiries and can be contacted on 0116 2402434 or at office@kilby.leics.sch.uk. The school is on Main Street, Kilby, Wigston, Leicester LE18 3TD. These are the contact details for families making a nursery enquiry.