The Primary School of St Mary and St Martin Nursery

Early reading gives this nursery its clearest character. Children encounter phonics early, with learning new sounds providing a starting point for reading. The nursery belongs to The Primary School of St Mary and St Martin, a Church of England primary school in Blyth whose age range begins at three.

The useful distinction for parents is between the nursery’s place within the school and what happens in early years. In February 2025, children were enthusiastic about learning sounds and developed confidence in reading quickly. Those findings give a concrete picture of early learning here: an introduction to reading, supported by attention to children who need extra help.

Sounds and vocabulary are the strongest evidenced threads of the nursery day. In February 2025, early-years children began the school’s phonics programme promptly. Phonics introduces children to sounds as part of learning to read; here, their enthusiasm for those sounds accompanied growing reading confidence. This gives parents something more specific to consider than a general promise of preparation for school.

Language also has a place beyond reading. The curriculum starts in early years, and children are encouraged to encounter the vocabulary associated with different subjects from an early stage. The practical significance is the attention paid to words alongside the ideas they describe. Learning involves beginning to use the language of a subject, as well as taking part in an activity.

For children at risk of falling behind in reading, staff identified the difficulty quickly and supplied help to keep them alongside their peers. That support matters within the learning day: the introduction to phonics was accompanied by a response to children who needed more assistance.

Relationships are another concrete part of the early-years picture. In February 2025, positive relationships between children and staff extended into the early-years setting. For a parent considering a child’s first experience of school, those relationships matter alongside the learning programme.

Reading support adds a specific example of staff responding to children’s needs. Children struggling to keep pace received help, linking the teaching of sounds with attention to individual progress. The evidence supports that particular form of assistance rather than a broader claim about every aspect of nursery care.

Attending this nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Nursery admission and Reception admission are separate processes: families must apply again through the normal Reception application route and meet the applicable deadline. Treat the nursery choice and the Reception application as two decisions, even though the nursery is part of the school.

The school’s address is Retford Road, Blyth, Worksop, S81 8ER. The telephone number is 01909591218. These provide a direct contact point for families considering the nursery.