Nursery

EYFS Provision with Little Shells Nursery at St. James

Why choose us?

• Our vision is a commitment to building a strong, lasting foundation for every child.
• We deliver a rich, inspiring Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) experience
• We unlock a lifelong love of learning.
• We nurture curiosity, confidence, and core skills from the very beginning
• In our EYFS, we help your child grow, learn, and get ready for all the exciting things ahead – in school and in life!

The EYFS Provision is divided into stages:

• Little Shells Nursery ages 3-4 years
• Reception Class ages 4-5 years

The EYFS Curriculum is based on seven areas of learning we share topics and themes based around each area with the whole of EYFS. Literacy and Numeracy is then delivered separately to our Nursery and Reception children by a key worker of the EYFS team.

See our Little Shells @ St. James prospectus for all information.

Read through our Nursery admissions Policy. This will give you information around the admission criteria.

How to Apply - Don't worry it's easy and we're with you every step of the way!

Just fill out the application form below and return this to school as soon as possible. You will then be added to the waiting list and contacted by a member of our EYFS team. Hard copies of the form are available from the school office. 

What we offer

1. Seamless Transition and Emotional Security
Children experience a smooth transition from nursery to reception, remaining in a familiar environment with trusted adults. This continuity helps build confidence and emotional resilience, allowing children to settle quickly and thrive.

2. Consistent Curriculum and Teaching Approach
Our EYFS unit follows a unified curriculum that supports learning through play, exploration, and structured activities. Children benefit from a coherent progression in literacy, numeracy, and personal development, guided by qualified early years educators.

3. Peer Learning and Social Development
Mixed-age interaction encourages younger children to learn from older peers, while older children reinforce their understanding by modelling behaviours and skills. This dynamic fosters collaboration, empathy, and independence.

4. Early Access to Qualified Teaching
Children in our nursery provision benefit from access to qualified teachers from the start, ensuring high-quality instruction and early identification of individual learning needs.

5. Stronger Community and Family Engagement
Our EYFS unit strengthens the connection between families and school. Parents are actively involved in their child’s learning journey, and our shared setting promotes a sense of belonging and partnership.

6. Improved Outcomes for All Children
Research and experience show that high-quality early years provision has a lasting impact on children’s social, emotional, and cognitive development. Our EYFS unit aims to narrow attainment gaps and give every child the best possible start.

Meet the team

Our EYFS team at St James Catholic Primary School