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Nursery at St Benedict's Catholic Primary School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Children’s interests help shape the learning at St Benedict’s: time to explore and play is paired with adults extending what children discover. This is the nursery provision within St Benedict’s Catholic Primary School, a Catholic school on Back Lane in Ampleforth, with entry starting at age 3.
The school welcomes children of other faiths and no faith into its activities. For families considering a Catholic setting, that welcome sits alongside the school’s religious character.
Play has a defined place in the early years curriculum. In the Moment planning means children pursue an interest while practitioners use their interactions to develop the learning. The practical implication is that children’s choices help determine what happens during play, rather than every activity following a fixed topic.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines this exploration with communication and early literacy. Monster Phonics is used for daily EYFS phonics sessions, including learning to combine sounds and separate them within words. Daily stories give children repeated contact with books, while activities children initiate themselves provide opportunities to develop language. These are distinct parts of the day: listening to a story, practising sounds and choosing play each have a place.
Understanding the world is another strand. Development Matters guides the EYFS work on people, communities, technology and the world around children. An EYFS and KS1 outing to Monk Park Farm included feeding animals, woodland walks and sandpit play, taking exploration beyond the classroom.
At the October 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that early years children developed communication, language and mathematical understanding. Children also enjoyed learning through play and exploration, paid attention and learnt to follow instructions. Curriculum sequencing. The school needed to improve how learning built on earlier knowledge in some subjects; this was a school-wide concern, rather than a finding specifically assigned to nursery.
Support for additional needs involves families. The school works with children and parents, bringing in outside agencies where appropriate to develop individual support. A SEN coordinator provides a point of contact within that structure. This gives parents a route to discuss their child’s needs as part of planning support.
Children’s inclusion also extends to participation: the school welcomes those of other faiths or no faith into its activities.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route by the applicable deadline. Treat choosing nursery and securing a school place as separate decisions, even when the intended destination is the same school.
An individual guided tour can help families meet staff and consider the setting before deciding whether to join.
Two nursery sessions structure the day: mornings run from 8:55am to 12:00pm, and afternoons from 1:00pm to 3:30pm. Those start and finish times matter when fitting nursery around work or other children’s routines.
Contact the school on 01439 788340 for enquiries or to arrange an individual guided tour. For planning around the school calendar, the 2026 autumn half-term holiday runs from 26 to 30 October. There is also a staff development day on 27 November 2026, when students do not attend school.
Entry starts at age 3.
The morning session runs from 8:55am to 12:00pm; the afternoon session runs from 1:00pm to 3:30pm.
In the Moment planning allows children to follow their interests, with practitioners developing learning through their interactions.
No. Nursery and Reception applications are separate, and families must apply again through the normal Reception admissions process.
Yes. Contact the school on 01439 788340 to arrange an individual guided tour and meet staff.
