St Joseph's Catholic Primary School and Nursery

At St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School the Nursery class children have been very busy settling in and getting to know one another. The Nursery pets, rabbits Candy and Oreo, have helped to settle the children; ‘they are adorable!’ remarked one child.   

Caring, passionate practitioners welcome and settle each child daily, according to their individual needs. The children have access to both classrooms and the large exclusive garden during free flow for long periods each day. A wide variety of resources and areas are available, reflecting all aspects of the Early Years Curriculum. These include a free choice art area, music area and mud kitchen and provide a variety of opportunities to develop vital pro-social, communication and physical skills.  

Our knowledgeable practitioners, including a class teacher, use a combination of the children’s interests and planned activities to teach the children new skills in interesting, relevant and practical contexts. Each child is extended according to their individual development and next steps. Activities include sewing, woodwork, music, dance and gardening. Group times are kept short and interesting and focus on developing early phonics and mathematics skills as well as weekly RE and literacy.  

The aim is to ensure that children not only succeed academically, but also grow spiritually and morally, developing into fully rounded individuals. We follow the diamond rules at St Joseph’s and work hard on copying the example of Jesus, using good manners, caring for our friends and resources and following instructions carefully. The children love to receive stickers for following these rules.  

Practitioners develop warm relationships with parents and carers, communicating with them daily via an online learning journal and face-to-face. The classroom environment has an inviting feel, with an emphasis on celebrating the children’s achievements and diversity. One parent commented ‘My son got attached to all the staff, which remarks a caring and kid-friendly attitude. I can’t thank staff enough.’  

In addition to the Early Years curriculum, the children are encouraged to develop skills of resilience, team work, concentration and problem-solving which set them up for success throughout their school careers. Practitioners sensitively encourage children to be as independent as possible, in collaboration with parents, assisting with a smooth transition into Reception year.