St George's Catholic Primary School Nursery Review

A Faraway Tree, a connecting Magic Door and woodland learning give St George's nursery a character of its own. Children can join from their third birthday, with the nursery sitting beside Reception at this Catholic primary school in York. The adjoining rooms allow children to spend time together while keeping their own nursery base.

Teaching is led by a qualified, experienced teacher working with teaching assistants. Flexible attendance includes mornings and the possibility of just one day a week, making this an option for families seeking a school nursery with a timetable they can shape around their needs.

Natural materials, classroom plants and neutral colours reflect an environment influenced by Reggio Emilia. The nursery aims to make its surroundings welcoming and supportive of communication. Cosy corners in the connected early years rooms give children somewhere for quieter learning; outside, a large shared area allows them to choose resources around their interests. Children can move freely between indoor and outdoor provision, with opportunities to explore, practise balancing and climb, including on the castle.

Woodland Adventure takes place weekly in woodland at the bottom of the school field. Learning across the curriculum happens there, so outdoor time serves more than physical activity alone. Forest school also uses the wildlife area, and nursery children spend most afternoons in the forest. Wellies and a hooded raincoat are practical essentials here.

The Early Years Foundation Stage, or EYFS, is the nursery's curriculum framework. Here, the day brings together learning in the classroom, outdoor exploration and opportunities to develop communication. In September 2023, Ofsted found that early years routines helped children learn to handle their emotions and behaviour, with reading receiving attention from the start. The same inspection identified occasions when adults left phonics mistakes uncorrected, making accurate teaching of sounds an improvement point to keep in mind.

A morning snack brings a choice of vegetables or fruit, accompanied by water or milk. For lunch, children can bring a healthy packed meal or have a hot meal prepared at school. That gives families a choice between food from home and the school kitchen; school lunches carry a charge.

Tapestry, the online learning journal, connects home and nursery. Staff share children's experiences and achievements, and parents can contribute their own updates. It gives families a way to take part in the record of their child's learning rather than simply receive messages.

For additional needs, the school's SEND arrangements begin with a conversation with the child's teacher and a plan developed with parents. The SENDCo can be reached through the office. Children with SEND have a pupil passport reviewed three times a year, providing regular opportunities to revisit support. Families can discuss disability-related adjustments before their child joins.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the local authority where they live, meeting that authority's deadline. A Supplementary Information Form also needs to be returned to the school to help establish the application category, including applications based on Catholic faith.

The practical transition is a separate matter. Nursery and Reception staff work together, and the connecting Magic Door lets children share the two settings. Summer New Starter days give children opportunities to try Reception routines and meet their next teacher. An individual transition plan can include additional days where needed.

Provision runs during term time, with 15 or 30 funded hours each week for eligible families. Funding starts in the term following a child's third birthday. For a funded summer-term start, the birthday must fall on or before 31 March.

Morning sessions run from 08:45 to 11:45; afternoons begin at 12:45 and finish at 15:15. Flexible attendance can also include a 09:00 to 15:00 day. Dragons' Den extends care from 07:30 until 17:45. Collection at 17:45 must be arranged in advance because staffing reduces after 17:00. Contact the school office to discuss enrolment, book a tour and obtain current charges.

For the main early years day, parents hand children to staff at the Reception classroom door and collect from the classroom door. Pack named indoor black plimsolls, water, spare clothes in a drawstring bag and a hooded raincoat. Keep named wellies at school, and choose everyday shoes suitable for climbing. Backpacks are discouraged because storage space is limited.