St Bartholomew's Church of England Primary School Nursery

A teddy bear’s birthday party gives learning a purpose at St Bartholomew’s nursery: children count candles, sing and cut food for the celebration. The emphasis is on doing, talking and concentrating. It is a useful picture of how early learning takes shape here, with several skills brought together through one activity.

This is the nursery within the Church of England primary school in Penn, Wolverhampton. Children become eligible after their third birthday, subject to places becoming available. At the inspection on 12 and 13 November 2024, Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Outstanding. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately graded nursery.

Morning and afternoon sessions give the day its basic shape. Within those sessions, the early years foundation stage (EYFS) combines learning that children can put into practice: counting candles develops number work, songs bring language into the activity, and preparing party food calls for careful cutting. The birthday celebration makes these different tasks part of a shared purpose.

In November 2024, children in early years sustained their attention and became absorbed in activities. Adults directed support towards the areas each child needed to develop. Vocabulary also received deliberate attention, with children using chosen words accurately when explaining their learning. For parents, the significant detail is the connection between practical activity and being able to talk about it.

Books provide another starting point. Nursery children have read The Tiger who came to tea, linked to learning about themselves and their families. That gives a familiar story a personal connection: the subject matter relates to the people and experiences children already know.

Settling into activities was a strength in early years in November 2024: children engaged readily and maintained their focus. This describes their participation once learning was under way, rather than a particular induction programme.

Parents have routes to discuss concerns through the school’s open-door approach and regular staff consultation meetings. The school aims to develop the partnership between families and staff. Those arrangements give parents opportunities to raise something small before it becomes a larger worry.

Safeguarding procedures apply across the school. Staff receive a briefing when appointed and further briefings at least annually. Concerns are discussed with parents unless doing so would risk harm or compromise enquiries. An interpreter can be used where required, helping families take part in these conversations.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the local authority’s admission process. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as two distinct decisions: a nursery place does not remove the need to apply again for full-time education.

Morning Nursery runs from 8:45am to 11:45am; Afternoon Nursery runs from 12:15pm to 3:15pm. Collection and drop-off need to match those times. The interval between sessions allows nursery staff to have lunch and prepare for the next group, so punctual collection matters to the organisation of the day.

For enquiries, contact the school office on 01902 558855. Families considering the school can also arrange a tour through the office during the normal school day. This provides a direct way to see the school before making a decision.