Sacred Heart Nursery
Our **NEW** Nursery Offer from September 2026
Places available for 2, 3 and 4 year olds with a choice of term-time only (38 weeks) or all year round (48 weeks) and the option of an extended day with nursery open from 7.30am to 6.00pm.
A nursery that works for your family . . .
Open longer, with real flexibility
We offer both term-time and all-year-round (48-week) places, with extended hours from 7:30am to 6:00pm. We understand the demands of modern family life and aim to support parents with flexible, reliable care in a setting where every child is known and valued. We will also be offering two types of contracts for our nursery sessions: term-time only and all year round, with the option to add flexible extended hours to term-time sessions, subject to availability. We hope this will help meet the needs of local working parents. The nursery will close for 5 days at Christmas, 5 days at Easter and 10 days in August. The closure days are linked to bank holidays to help working parents. Closure days will be published at the same time as school term dates, which is always a year in advance.
Welcoming, homely spaces
Our current nursery is being expanded with dedicated rooms for 2-3 year olds and 3–4-year olds, each with access to their own outdoor learning environment. These outdoor spaces will be refurbished in 2026, creating safe, engaging environments to nurture curiosity, creativity and a love of learning.
At the heart of our school community
By welcoming children from age 2, Sacred Heart offers a true one-stop drop-off for families. Your child can grow and learn in one familiar setting, from nursery through to year 6. (You will have to apply separately for Reception. However, in the past 5 years all nursery children have been offered a place in Reception). Rooted in our Catholic values, we place relationships, kindness and respect at the centre of everything we do. We warmly welcome families of all faiths and none, creating an inclusive environment where every child and family feels valued and a true sense of belonging . We want our nursery children to be fully integrated into the wider school community and school life. Children will have access to the school’s specialist teachers (for example in PE and Music). They will also wear the Early Years version of our school uniform.
Learning in Love
At Sacred Heart, we understand that every child is unique and our school motto of “Learning in Love” starts from the moment we welcome your family to our school. Our wonderful nursery setting has a strong track record of providing a nurturing educational environment supporting each child’s development. We have been able to deliver excellent outcomes, preparing children for the next stage of their education as they transition to Reception. By expanding nursery to include 2 year olds, offering an extended school day and remaining open for 48 weeks a year we are continuing our aim to give children the best possible start in their learning journey.
"Research shows that children who attend high-quality early education and childcare between ages two and four perform better at every stage of school – with those early years creating a strong foundation for their future. Studies have also found that pre-school education plays a positive role in children’s development, and the quality of that early learning environment continues to benefit them as they grow. Juggling work, family life, and childcare can feel daunting at times. But when you know your child is happy, nurtured, and thriving in the care of dedicated professionals, everything feels a little easier.” Extract from 'Why childcare matters in your child's early years'. The full article is available on the Best Start in Life website.
Nursery Hours & Sessions:
We will offer two different contracts for parents to choose from. Children will need to attend for a minimum 5 morning or afternoon sessions a week during term-time. Where we can offer flexibility to suit your family's needs we are happy to do so. Please ask us if you'd prefer to use your sessions over 2.5 days or if you need to split your funded hours with another setting.
Term-time only – 38 weeks a year
Morning session (15 hours): 8.30am to 11.30am or Afternoon session which includes lunch-time (15 hours): 11.30am to 2.30pm
All day: 8.30am to 2.30pm (30 hours)
Please see below for options to extend the day.
All year round – 48 weeks a year
All day: 7.30am to 6.00pm (minimum 5 sessions a week)
Extended day – for term-time only children to extend the day from 7.30am to 6.00pm
Before-school session – 7.30am to 8.30am (breakfast available)
After-school session 1 – 2.30pm to 3.30pm
After-school session 2 – 3.30pm to 4.30pm
After-school session 3 – 4.30pm to 6.00pm (light tea available)
Please see our calendar below for 2026/27 nursery dates.
Funding Available:
- Term-time only: 15 Hours of Nursery Education:
All children are eligible for 15 hours of funded nursery education per week, after their third birthday. These 15 hours are typically delivered either as 5 morning or 5 afternoon sessions. - Term-time only: 30 Hours of Nursery Education:
For families where both parents are working, children may be eligible for 30 hours of nursery education per week. This is usually offered as a full day from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm. You can check your eligibility for 30 hours of funding on the government website: Best Start in Life - All year round: 15 Hours of Nursery Education:
You can 'stretch' your funded hours across 48 weeks, giving you 11.875 funded hours a week which you can then 'top-up'. - All year round: 30 Hours of Nursery Education:
You can 'stretch' your funded hours across 48 weeks, giving you 23.75 funded hours a week which you can then 'top-up'.
The Government only funds the delivery of EYFS in the funded hours attended. Funding excludes:
- Food, consumables such as nappies and wipes. We ask you to provide these for your child.
- Any additional activities the nursery provides over and above the delivery of EYFS
- Any additional hours and sessions required over and above the funded hours.
These excluded items are charged at a set rate as detailed in our fee schedule but are not compulsory. Any additional charges will be itemised on your fee invoice.
Fees currently include specialist music and PE lessons that take place during term time.
Costs:
For further information about the costs of our nursery please see our fee schedule below. Fees will be subject to an annual increase in line with inflation. Nursery fees are not subject to VAT.
Term-time only fees (3 and 4 year olds) the 3 & 4 year rate applies to terms where your child is either 3 or 4 on the first day of the funded period (1st September, 1st January, 1st April).
Term time only fees (2 year olds) the 2 year old rate applies to terms where your child is 2 on the first day of the funded period (1st September, 1st January and 1st April).
We do not charge fees for Bank Holidays or during closures (eg polling day)
A deposit of £100 is payable on acceptance of a place. This will be off-set against your first month’s invoice.
You will be billed monthly in arrears.
We do not charge fees for Bank Holidays or during closures (eg INSET or polling day).
No exchanges, credits or refunds will be given for your child's absence (eg through sickness or family holidays while nursery is open).
You will need to give one full term’s notice to leave an all-year round place and will be charged up until the last day of each term.
Food Options:
During both term time and holidays, children will be provided with a mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack. Our menus are fully compliant with school food plan guidelines and we have strong procedures in place across the school to cater for any allergies/intolerances children may have. We recognise the importance of healthy nutrition for children delivered in a calm, friendly setting and expect food to be consumed whilst sitting at a table.
Children in nursery between 7.30am and 8.00am are served breakfast - a choice of wholegrain cereals, toast and milk or juice. Fruit is also available.
Children who stay for lunch (11.30am to 12.30pm) have two options:
- Packed Lunch: Parents provide a packed lunch for their child. This must follow our policy to support children with allergies.
- Hot School Meal: During term-time we offer a hot school meal, which costs approximately £4.00 per day.
Fresh drinking water is available at all times.
A light tea will be served at 4.30pm.
Why Choose Sacred Heart Nursery?
We believe that a happy, stimulating and safe environment is essential for the development of children. Through the care and teaching provided, we aim to develop independence, self-esteem and an enthusiasm for learning. We believe that children have a range of different experiences and a variety of skills and interests that they bring with them to school. Our provision and teaching builds upon what children already know and can do. We hope this will be the beginning of a happy and successful partnership which will continue throughout your child’s time at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School.
- Experienced Staff: Our team consists of qualified early years teachers and practitioners who are dedicated to supporting your child’s learning and development.
- Tailored Curriculum: We create individualised learning experiences, planned by qualified teachers, to ensure each child is given the attention and support they need.
- School Readiness: Our curriculum is designed to prepare children for the next stage of their education, ensuring they are ready for Reception, whichever school you choose.
How to apply?
Nursery admissions are processed by the school. Our application form can be completed online here or contact us if you would prefer to be sent a form by email or post.
If you have any questions regarding our nursery admissions, please contact the Admissions Team admissions@sacredheart.merton.sch.uk. This inbox is monitored during school holidays.
We aim to contact all applicants within 5 days to confirm receipt of your application form.
Please note: Attending Sacred Heart nursery does not automatically guarantee a place in Reception. You will need to apply through your local authority’s Admissions system. In recent years, we have been able to accommodate all of our nursery children who chose to stay for Reception.