Heswall St Peter's CofE Primary School Nursery Review

Three-hour sessions or a full day give St Peter's Early Years a clear practical shape. This is the nursery provision at Heswall St Peter's CofE Primary School, on Thurstaston Road in Heswall. Children can join from two years and six months, with the Early Years provision welcoming children up to four.

Morning and afternoon each provide three hours in the Early Years classroom. Children staying for the full day have a 45-minute lunchtime between the two sessions, so families can choose a shorter session or combine both with lunch cover.

Children's interests can change the direction of learning. The annual curriculum overview allows themes and teaching to be adapted around those interests, giving children's curiosity a part in what happens next.

Songs and rhymes have a concrete learning purpose here. At the February 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that nursery children aged two and three participated confidently in singing and rhyme recitation, preparing them for later phonics learning. Familiar words and sounds are the starting point.

A qualified Early Years teacher leads the provision, working closely with the qualified classroom teacher and support staff trained in early years. Parents can talk with the team through its open-door approach. That gives families a direct route to discuss their child with the adults teaching them.

For children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), the school's arrangements include adjustments tailored to the individual child. Sensory breaks, ear defenders and a quiet area are among the options described across the school. Families can request an appointment or telephone conversation with the SENDCo or class teacher through the office, allowing discussion of which adjustments suit their child.

Safeguarding has a designated lead and deputies who meet each week to discuss concerns, including attendance, pastoral matters and SEND. Safeguarding posters are displayed in every classroom, and adults across the school have safeguarding training. Parents can contact that team through the office or its email address.

Reception requires a separate application. Attending this nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply again through Wirral's local authority admissions process by the normal deadline for their child's entry year. Treat that application as a separate task from arranging nursery sessions.

The nursery's songs and rhymes prepare children for later phonics learning. That is educational preparation, separate from the allocation of a school place.

Morning sessions run from 8.45am to 11.45am; afternoons run from 12.30pm to 3.30pm. A full day runs from 8.45am to 3.30pm. In-year nursery entry depends on space. Contact the school office on 0151 342 2556 to enquire or arrange a personal tour.

Universal funding covers 15 hours a week over 38 weeks for three- and four-year-olds, beginning in the term after their third birthday. The school also offers an additional 15 funded hours for eligible children and describes 15-hour funding for eligible two-year-olds of working parents. Applications for the extended or expanded funding code must be made in the preceding term.

Lunch cover can be an extra charge. For children receiving 15 or 30 funded hours who attend both sessions, lunchtime cover is charged separately if their funding has all been allocated to sessions. Parents can instead collect at 11.45am and return at 12.30pm. Sessions outside funding are also charged; contact the school for current charges. The school accepts payments through Tax-Free Childcare.