SS Mary and John's Catholic Primary Academy Nursery Review

Daily outdoor exploration and an early start to becoming familiar with Reception give this nursery its character. For children aged three to four, it forms part of the early years provision at SS Mary and John's Catholic Primary Academy on Caledonia Road, Wolverhampton. The academy and nursery share a building on one level, with an early years garden equipped for activities.

Ofsted judged early years provision Good at the inspection on 30 April and 1 May 2024. That judgement covers the school's early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Learning combines adult-guided teaching with planned opportunities for children to explore and put learning into practice. Nursery follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS): language, movement and social development provide the foundations, alongside early literacy, mathematics, creative expression and learning about the world. In parent terms, learning includes how children communicate and relate to others, as well as what they know.

Indoor learning spaces and the outdoor area are used throughout the year, whatever the weather. Children explore outside daily, and the early years garden has activity equipment. Outdoor learning is part of the routine. Suitable shoes and spare clothes matter because exploration can leave children wet or muddy.

The weekly pattern includes a library session, while PE uses the hall on particular days. Music involves a specialist teacher, with weekly lessons also giving children practice in more structured group learning. These provide different settings for listening, movement and participation alongside their exploratory activities.

Past early years experiences include visiting Lower Drayton Farm and the theatre, hatching eggs, and caring for young ducks and butterflies. The annual Christmas Experience Day brings books into activities; a previous event explored Stickman. These are concrete ways of extending children's experience beyond classroom resources, rather than promises that a particular visit will recur.

Starting nursery includes a stay and play session with a parent present. Children can begin getting to know staff while their familiar carer stays alongside them. During the day, picture-based timetables and boards showing the current and following activity help children understand changes in routine.

Staffing includes a nursery teacher, an EYFS teaching assistant and an EYFS auxiliary welfare assistant. The school's SEND coordinator is also an assistant principal and can be contacted through the office. This gives families a route to discuss additional needs alongside the early years team.

Across the academy, teachers assess progress with support from the SEND coordinator and leadership team. When progress remains inadequate despite teaching support, teachers and the coordinator use an assess, plan, do and review cycle, involving parents in deciding how to help. Assessment also distinguishes difficulties arising solely from learning English from special educational needs, so language development is considered in context.

Familiarity starts building from the autumn term. Nursery children join daily mixed groups with Reception children, spending time across the nursery, Reception classroom and outdoor space. Staff move between these areas too, allowing children to get to know the wider early years team. Where possible, staff also work with other settings when children move schools or nurseries.

This preparation does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through Wolverhampton's local authority coordinated admissions process and meet the normal application deadline. Treat the classroom transition and the application as separate tasks: getting comfortable with the people and spaces does not secure admission.

Contact the school office on 01902 558780 to arrange a visit; visits can be arranged rather than being limited to a single open day. Early years staff and the office also handle enquiries about the provision.

For daily outdoor learning, send clothing and footwear suited to the weather, plus a change of clothes. This is a practical part of preparing for the nursery day, especially when activities involve mud or water.