Before School Care

Enjoy a Healthy Start at St Mary’s! 🍽️🌟

At St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, we are committed to ensuring every child has a calm, positive, and well-nourished start to the school day.

We offer two morning provisions to support families:

🕖 Before School Care (7:45am – 8:45am)

Before School Care is a bookable childcare provision available from 7:45am.

This session is charged and must be booked in advance via School Gateway.
Places are limited to ensure safe staffing ratios
Children attending this session may access breakfast food during this time.
On-the-day places are limited and available only in exceptional circumstances, subject to availability.

This provision is designed to support families who require early morning childcare.

🍵 What’s on the menu?
Children can enjoy an array of breakfast options, including:

Bagels/Toast/Crumpets
Cereals 🥣
Baked beans 🍽️

But that’s not all! After fuelling up, there are plenty of games and activities to keep everyone engaged, giving your child a wonderful chance to socialise with friends before the school day begins. From 8:30 am, they can even head outside to enjoy the playground! 🎉

🏫 Where?
Entrance is via the pedestrian gate on Masbro Road.

🕖 Free Magic Breakfast (from 8:30am)

From 8:30am, we offer a bagel or toast, as part of our free Magic Breakfast for all pupils.

Open to all children
No booking required
Free of charge
A welcoming, calm start to the school day

This ensures every child has access to a breakfast before learning begins.

🏫 Where?
Breakfast will be available from the Tuck Shop.

Tea and coffee will also be available for sale for parents remaining with their children until the whistle blows.

We are proud to work in partnership with Magic Breakfast to ensure no child starts the day hungry, while also providing safe and sustainable childcare options for families who need them.

If you have any questions about Before School Care or Free Magic Breakfast that aren't answered in our FAQ's below, please contact the school office.

FAQ's

What is the difference between Before School Care and Free Magic Breakfast?

Before School Care (7:45–8:45am) is a paid, bookable childcare provision for families who need early drop-off.
Free Magic Breakfast (from 8:30am) is a free, universal breakfast offer available to all pupils with no booking required.

Does my child have to attend Before School Care to get breakfast?

No. All children can access Free Magic Breakfast from 8:30am, whether or not they attend Before School Care.

How much does Before School Care cost?

Before School Care costs £4 per session when booked in advance via School Gateway.
A limited number of on-the-day emergency places may be available at £5 per session, subject to availability.

Why is Before School Care now charged?

Magic Breakfast will continue to provide free food; however, funding to support staffing costs will end in September 2026.
Charging for early childcare allows the school to maintain safe staffing ratios and ensure the provision remains sustainable long-term.

Do I need to book Free Magic Breakfast?

No booking is required for Free Magic Breakfast from 8:30am.

What food is provided as part of Free Magic Breakfast?

From 8:30am, children are offered a bagel or toast as part of our free Magic Breakfast provision.

How do I book Before School Care?

Bookings must be made via School Gateway, in the same way as Bluebirds.
You can book up until midnight the night before the session.

What happens if all places are booked?

Before School Care places are capped for health and safety reasons.
Once places are filled, no additional children can be admitted.

Can I cancel a booking?

Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours in advance to receive a credit.
Late cancellations or non-attendance cannot be credited.

Can I rely on on-the-day bookings regularly?

No. On-the-day bookings are for emergencies or one-off situations only and cannot be used as a regular arrangement. Availability is not guaranteed.

Where do children enter in the morning?

All children attending Before School Care should enter via the Masbro Road pedestrian gate.

Who can I speak to if I need support?

If you are experiencing difficulties or need support accessing provision, please contact the school office. We are happy to discuss individual circumstances confidentially.