St Clare's School Nursery

Clevis Crescent, Newton, Porthcawl CF36 5AS
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10 53 Reviews
The nursery at St. Clare's School is very special with its deliberately smaller class sizes and a full-time qualified teacher.

Surprisingly competitively priced, lessons include Spanish/French, Forest School, PE and optional Ballet. St Clare's offers an outstanding level of care for boys and girls from two and a half upwards and the nursery rate includes early drop off from 8am, a healthy home-cooked hot lunch and free after-school care from 3:30 until 5:30pm. The nursery is staffed by experienced specialists, who demonstrate excellence in early years development.

Their aim is to provide a safe, caring, happy and stimulating environment for children to enjoy play and learning experiences.

To enable children to:

* Develop their capabilities as ambitious competent learners.
* Become creative contributors and responsible citizens in society.
* Grow into independent, healthy, confident individuals.

They aim to support all children by creating an environment that has a good balance of quality teaching and education, as well as opportunities for play-based experiences, where the children choose and lead their learning. The curriculum is broadened to include specialist lessons including Spanish, Music, Forest School, (optional Ballet) and Sport. From the moment a pupil joins St Clare's School and Nursery they become part of the St Clare's family with access to eleven acres of magnificent grounds and specialist teachers.
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Care Provided by St Clare's School Nursery

  • Type of Service
  • Nursery School – Privately Owned
  • Open term time
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Helen Hier (Headteacher)
  • Admission Criteria
    • Minimum age 2 1/2 years. Must be toilet trained and out of pull-ups
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 5
  • Total Places for Children
  • 28
  • Age Range
    • from 2 years 6 months
    • to 4 years 11 months
  • Opening Times
  • Monday 08:00-17:30
    Tuesday 08:00-17:30
    Wednesday 08:00-17:30
    Thursday 08:00-17:30
    Friday 08:00-17:30
  • When Closed
  • School Holidays

Funding & Fees Guide for St Clare's School Nursery

  • From as little as £48.89 per day (or £37.75 per day with the Bridgend Early Years Grant funding applied).


  • As parents, you will rightly consider the cost of sending their child to private school. St Clare's understands that parents want flexibility in the way they pay their fees. There are different options available to parents, from paying termly in advance by direct debit or if they would like even greater flexibility, monthly through the School Fee Plan.


  • Parking
  • Onsite visitor parking available.


St Clare's School Nursery Reviews (53)

Total of 53, showing 1-20
10

St Clare's School Nursery has a Review Score of 10 (9.987) out of 10, based on 13 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time St Clare's School Nursery has 53 reviews.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our daughter joined the school in September and has been so happy she runs into the class everyday. The staff are incredible and the learning experiences are second to none. I couldn't be happier with the care and education she is receiving.

Reply from Chloe McKay, Admissions and Marketing Manager at St Clare's School Nursery

Thank you for submitting such a lovely review. Our team love reading the comments. From a child's first day at St Clare's they become part of our St Clare's family. It is wonderful to hear your daughter is having such a positive educational journey at St Clare's.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

After my daughter started at the nursery back in September we've noticed she's come on so much with confidence, she's turning into an independent girl who loves going into the nursery. The staff are fantastic.

Reply from Chloe McKay, Admissions and Marketing Manager at St Clare's School Nursery

Thank you for posting a 10/10 review of St Clare's Day Nursery. Our staff love reading all the positive comments. It is wonderful to hear how your daughter loves attending Nursery and is growing in confidence.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter is absolutely thriving at St Clare's. She has come on leaps and bounds since being there. The staff are phenomenal and you can tell they absolutely love their jobs and have the children's best interest at heart. My daughter has made a lovely group of friends and her socialising and communication
skills have really come along way since attending the nursery. She comes out of nursery happy every day and tells me all the activities she has taken part in.

Reply from Chloe McKay, Admissions and Marketing Manager at St Clare's School Nursery

Thank you for your lovely words, and posting a 10/10 review of St Clare's Day Nursery. We are very grateful and our team always love reading parents' reviews. It is wonderful to hear how your daughter is thriving at St Clare's.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Life is full of important decisions and without doubt, placing our great grandson in St Clare's Nursery at the age of 3, was an outstanding choice.
In the 5 months he has been there, he has blossomed, both academically and socially. He loves going to school to be with his new friends and teachers.
His confidence and speech have noticeably improved in his short time there. The curriculum and activities are well thought out and clearly enjoyed by all the children.
The staff are very friendly, professional and enthusiastic in their support of the children, and I would heartily recommend St Clare's to anyone considering placing their child there.

Reply from Chloe McKay, Admissions and Marketing Manager at St Clare's School Nursery

Thank you so much for your lovely words and taking the time to write a 10/10 review. From his first day at our lovely nursery, your little one became part of the St Clare's family with access to all the resources and facilities of an independent school. With our innovative new early years curriculum and outstanding level of care, your great grandson son receives all the support he requires to develop into a curious, confident and rounded young person.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The children love going here and it is usual for them to actually run into the school. The staff are all really friendly, the syllabus is well-considered and engaging and I've seen huge development in the children.

Reply from Chloe McKay, Admissions and Marketing Manager at St Clare's School Nursery

Thank you for your lovely 10/10 review. We are so pleased you are happy with St Clare's. our team always love reading parents' reviews.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son started at St Clare’s School in September 2023 when he was two and a half years old. The progress he has made in just two terms is incredible. He has grown in confidence and built on his skills for life. He is able to socialise well and made a lovely group of friends. His level and range of vocabulary
is mind-blowing; both in English and Welsh! His fine and gross motor skills have improved and most importantly, he loves going to school. The nursery staff have been fantastic, communication is great and they show genuine care for the children. They have already taken them on a range of trips which my son has loved! There is always something different and fun going on to help build an all-round happy and confident child. I would highly recommend St Clare’s School to anyone.

Reply from Holly Fowlkes, Admissions Registrar at St Clare's School Nursery

Thank you for posting a 10/10 review of St Clare's Day Nursery. We are very grateful and our team always love reading parents' reviews. It has been wonderful to see how much your son has grown in confidence. His range of vocabulary in both English, Welsh, Spanish and French!


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Engaging staff. Caring and focussed on the needs of the individual children. Excellent facilities, catering and support team too. The nursery is considered an important part of the wider school. Excellent quality reports back to parents.

Reply from Holly Fowlkes, Admissions Registrar at St Clare's School Nursery

Thank you so much for your 10/10 review. It has been wonderful to see your daughter thriving in our lovely nursery. Our staff love reading all the positive comments and it's really helpful for new parents to read what our parents think. We are so pleased to have been a Daynurseries Top 20 Nursery for the past three years.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

St Claire's School Nursery is a fabulous learning environment, my daughter has come on so much and so proud to see her being able to write her own name already at 3 years old. The staff are so friendly and welcoming, my daughter loves them all. Will be sending my younger daughter in September.

Reply from Holly Fowlkes, Admissions Registrar at St Clare's School Nursery

Thank you so much for your 10/10 review. Our staff love reading all the positive comments. So many new parents because they have heard about the small classes, Spanish/French and forest school. It has been wonderful to see your daughter do so well since she started.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son has settled very well in the school and the support from every teacher is exceptional. The attention each individual child gets is excellent. The activities they carry out throughout the week are always changing and they keep the children engaged and developing.

Reply from Holly Fowlkes, Admissions Registrar at St Clare's School Nursery

Thank you so much for taking the time to write a 10/10 review. From a child's first day at St Clare's Nursery and Pre-School, they become part of our St Clare's family, with access to eleven acres of magnificent grounds and all the facilities and resources available at an independent school. A child's early childhood experiences, relationships and surroundings fundamentally shape their whole lives. It has been wonderful to see how much your son has enjoyed the activities, especially onsite forest school.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Fantastic nursery. The staff at St Clare's School Nursery are absolutely wonderful! Such a nurturing and caring environment.
My girls have absolutely thrived since they started last September and are so excited every single day to go to school. They love their teachers like family!
I can’t recommend
this nursery enough.

Reply from Holly Fowlkes, Admissions Registrar at St Clare's School Nursery

Thank you so much for submitting your lovely review. The girls love the balance between child-initiated and adult-initiated activities to ensure they acquire the appropriate skills, knowledge and are cognitively challenged and supported. They have settled in so well and have made such lovely friendships.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our son has settled into St Clare’s School Nursery very well, making lots of friends. He had a lot of anxiety prior to joining, however, his development has come on leaps and bounds. The staff have been wonderful with him and we are very happy with the work St Clare’s is doing for our son.
Would recommend
to anybody looking for a day nursery and beyond.

Reply from Holly Fowlkes, Admissions Registrar at St Clare's School Nursery

Thank you so much for taking the time to write a 10/10 review. From his first day at our lovely nursery, your little one became part of the St Clare's family with access to all the resources and facilities of an independent school. With our innovative new early years curriculum and outstanding level of care, your son receives all the support he requires to develop into a curious, confident and rounded young person. It has been lovely to see him come out of his shell since September and make such strong friendships.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The best start for my child, I couldn’t wish for anymore. The well-being of my son is of utmost importance for me. He started at 2.5 years old and has never had a day he hasn’t enjoyed. The staff are so welcoming and so caring, he feels very happy and very safe there, which is very reassuring for me,
especially as he feels this every single day he attends, without fail. The environment within the nursery is both nurturing and stimulating. It is clear to see that the staff are as equally excited and eager, as the children are, to participate in the weekly activities. My son is thriving in all aspects of nursery life and it’s a delight to watch him grow alongside his friends.

Reply from Holly Fowlkes, Admissions Registrar at St Clare's School Nursery

Thank you so much for taking the time to write a 10/10 review. A child's early childhood experiences, relationships and surroundings fundamentally shape their whole lives. Our nursery provides a safe, caring, happy and stimulating environment for children to enjoy play and learning experiences. Your little boy loves the stunning woodland space we use for forest school every Friday and as an outdoor classroom. It has been lovely to see him form such good friendships.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter recently joined her brother at St Clare's School Nursery because we were so pleased with how he had thrived in their nurturing environment, and we wanted the same for her. She has settled in straight away, made friends, gained confidence and loves the variety of activities such as forest
school and Spanish; every morning she's excited to attend. The nursery is a great fit for our family, and we feel our children are getting the best start to their education.

Reply from Holly Fowlkes, Admissions Registrar at St Clare's School Nursery

Thank you so much for taking the time to write a five-star review. From a child's first day at St Clare's Nursery and Pre-School, they become part of the St Clare's family, with access to eleven acres of magnificent grounds and all the facilities and resources available at an independent school. A child's early childhood experiences, relationships and surroundings fundamentally shape their whole lives.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Excellent nursery. Such a brilliant team of staff. We would highly recommend St Clare’s School Nursery. The school has really brought the best out in our daughter; she’s grown in confidence and ability dramatically since starting. The class sizes and small, and this makes it so focused on individual
progress.

Reply from Holly Fowlkes, Admissions & Marketing Officer at St Clare's School Nursery

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this lovely review. It means so much to the whole team. It has been really wonderful to watch her confidence grow since joining St Clare's School Nursery.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The nursery is such a welcoming place, for both my son and me. The staff are friendly, professional and knowledgeable. Their standard of care is excellent, they know my child so well, they understand his needs and wants, and how to help him to develop further.
Communication is excellent, both verbally
and electronically. I know my child is happy, safe and learning, and how I can help him to support the work of the school.
Above all my son is happy, he enjoys time with his friends and I know he is being looked after at all times.

Reply from Holly Fowlkes, Admissions Registrar at St Clare's School Nursery

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a lovely review. It is wonderful that your son is so happy. At St Clare's we aim to provide a safe, caring, happy and stimulating environment for children to enjoy play and learning experiences.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

St Clare's Nursery is a wonderfully caring and nurturing environment. My son started in December 2022 and since then he has come on in leaps and bounds. The variety of activities and individually tailored care from the teachers means that he has flourished in this environment. The communication from
staff has been exceptional, we are well-informed on his progress and are so pleased we choose this nursery!

Reply from Holly Fowlkes, Admissions & Marketing Officer at St Clare's School Nursery

Thank you so much for taking the time to write a lovely review of our nursery. It means so much to our nursery team.
We aim to support all our children by creating an environment that has a good balance of quality teaching and education, as well as opportunities for play-based experiences, where the children choose and lead their learning.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Caring, nurturing environment for my daughter. Amazing staff and wonderful facilities, with a lovely safe garden that she absolutely loves playing in. Her speech has developed hugely since she began in January 2023. The teaching that they receive is outstanding. A superb nursery that I would highly
recommend.

Reply from Holly Fowlkes, Admissions Registrar at St Clare's School Nursery

Thank you so much for taking the time to write a lovely review of our nursery. It means so much to us all that you are so pleased with how happy and settled she is already. I know she loves Forest School on a Friday! The children are so lucky to be able to develop and grow in such wonderful grounds and facilities.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We were nervous about our daughter starting nursery full time but the staff went above and beyond to make her feel welcome and give her the best possible start to her education. The teachers genuinely care about all the children and work hard to create a great learning environment for them. I cannot
recommend the nursery enough.

Reply from Holly Fowlkes, Admissions Registrar at St Clare's School Nursery

We really appreciate you taking the time to write such a lovely review. It means so much to us all.


It has been wonderful to see your daughter settled and thriving. I am sure it was a very proud moment seeing her on stage for the Nursery Nativity.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We moved our daughter to this nursery in January, and she has settled very well. The staff are caring and professional. The activities provided are fun and educational, allowing all children to develop both academically and socially.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend St Clare’s to other parents and
carers.

Reply from Holly Fowlkes, Admissions Registrar at St Clare's School Nursery

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review of our lovely nursery. It has been wonderful to see how quickly your daughter has settled in from her first morning with us.
She has really enjoyed the real-life authentic experiences we offer in the early years such as the wormery, the trip to the garden centre to choose and buy the nursery fish and to choose and buy their own cake in the cafe. These experiences are hands-on, purposeful and meaningful to the children, encouraging children’s independence, and offering risk, challenge and opportunities to experience success along the learning journey. They are rooted in real-life, authentic contexts, to engage children in deep levels of involvement and long periods of uninterrupted active learning.


I am sure she will love the whole range of natural resources that have been delivered in the last few weeks.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Since starting at the age of 3 with St Clare's nursery school we have seen our daughter develop and blossom.
The care and focus she receives from the fully qualified teachers in the nursery are great.
She talks non-stop at home about the staff, her friends, and the nursery environment.
We would
recommend the nursery section at St Clare's to future children and parents keen to see their child prosper from the age of 3.

Reply from Holly Fowlkes, Admissions Registrar at St Clare's School Nursery

Thank you so much for taking the time to write a review of our brilliant nursery. It makes our hearts sing to read such lovely comments. It was lovely to see your daughter settle so quickly and thrive since her first morning.
She has loved the recent trips to the garden centre to buy the nursery fish and choose and purchase her own cake in the cafe. Their recent trip to the beach was enjoyed by them all; the ice cream was especially popular! It has been lovely to see her enjoying the weekly Spanish lessons and Forest School on Fridays too.


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Current Review Score: 10.0 (9.987)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 10 (9.987) out of 10 for St Clare's School Nursery is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 5.0 out of 5 from 13 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 13 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 4.987 for St Clare's School Nursery is calculated as follows: ( (154 Excellents x 5) + (2 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 156 Ratings = 4.987

  • b) 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5').

    The 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for St Clare's School Nursery is based on 13 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    • i) 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4

    • ii) 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 28 number of registered child places is 5.6, which has been reached with 13 Positive reviews. Points = 1

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Child Vacancies

Please Contact Us for Latest Vacancies

Awards / Recognitions (5)

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Meet the Team (4)

Carmen

Carmen Vanderbrink

Job Title: Teacher

Joined: 2008

Mrs Vanderbrink is a full-time qualified teacher.
BA Hons Education & Early Years, PGCE

Josie

Josie Morgan

Job Title: Nursery Teaching Assistant

Joined: 2013

Mrs Morgan is a qualified Nursery Teaching Assistant
Edexcel Level 3 BTEC National Diploma in Children's Care, Learning & Development

Susan

Susan Clark

Job Title: Nursery Teaching Assistant

Joined: 2021

Mrs Clark is a qualified teaching assistant.
NCFE CACHE Level 3 Childcare and Education

Elizabeth

Elizabeth Simons

Job Title: Nursery Teaching Assistant

Joined: 2021

Ms Simons is a qualified teaching assistant. CACHE Level 3 Supporting teaching and learning in schools

Frequently Asked Questions about St Clare's School Nursery

What is the Age Range of Children that St Clare's School Nursery accepts?

St Clare's School Nursery accepts Children aged from 2 years 6 months to 4 years 11 months.

What Days & Hours is St Clare's School Nursery Open?

St Clare's School Nursery is open: Monday 08:00-17:30, Tuesday 08:00-17:30, Wednesday 08:00-17:30, Thursday 08:00-17:30, Friday 08:00-17:30.

How many Children does St Clare's School Nursery have capacity for?

St Clare's School Nursery has capacity for a total of 28 Children.

How far is St Clare's School Nursery to the centre of Porthcawl?

1.3 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.