PJ's Nursery

Dedicated play spaces for under-twos and partially covered outdoor areas give PJ's Nursery a clear practical identity: younger children have space of their own, while outdoor play can continue in changing weather. This Seascale setting has 26 places in total, with nursery care for children aged 1 to 60 months alongside school-club provision.

At its December 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, finding that children made good progress through activities shaped around their interests and appropriately matched to their development. That judgement provides a positive foundation, but the detail matters: language, physical play and support for individual needs were strengths, while older children's independence during everyday routines needed more attention.

Flexible hourly childcare, with no minimum usage, is the practical attraction for families whose requirements vary.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, that means connecting play with communication, movement and growing independence, rather than treating learning as something separate from the nursery day.

In December 2022, speech and language ran through stories, singing and conversations with staff. Practitioners demonstrated new words for children to try, while older children explored the letters in their names. Hand-painted pictures of melting snowmen connected creative activity with an explanation of what warmth does to snow. These were concrete opportunities to talk, think and make something.

Physical activity also began with the youngest children. In December 2022, babies practised sitting, standing and bending through familiar action songs; older children balanced and jumped using stepping-stones. The activities gave different ages different ways to practise movement.

Outdoor and Community Life

Under-twos have dedicated indoor and outdoor play areas. Larger outdoor spaces are partly sheltered, extending the scope for outdoor activity when the weather changes. For parents of babies and young toddlers, that separation is a useful feature to explore during a visit.

In December 2022, outings into the village helped children learn about their community. Activities involving bagpipe music and haggis-hurling introduced Scottish heritage, while conversations covered different families and disability. The emphasis was on making differences understandable through experiences children could join in with.

At the December 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and SEND support successful, with development tracked in small steps, outside professionals involved and additional funding used for support including one-to-one staffing. Those findings describe the support in place at that time, rather than promising the same arrangement for every child.

In December 2022, children sought comfort from staff, and older children helped younger ones with outdoor clothing. Staff had also undertaken training about children's mental health in response to difficulties affecting children and families after the pandemic. Relationships and emotional support were part of the daily care described at that visit.

Communication had a practical home-learning element. In December 2022, a monthly story and song gave parents something specific to continue at home, alongside information about their child's learning. That creates a manageable connection between nursery activities and family life.

Independence was less consistent. In December 2022, older children were supported with personal care and hygiene, but mealtimes gave them too few opportunities to pour drinks or prepare and serve their own food. This matters as children approach school: everyday routines are opportunities to practise doing things for themselves.

Sessions and Attendance

The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 7am to 5pm, closing for bank holidays and Christmas. Childcare is charged by the hour, billed ahead in quarter-hour increments, with no minimum usage. Families can therefore plan around flexible hours rather than a compulsory minimum booking.

PJ's Nursery Before School Club opens from 7am to 9am during term time, and After School Club from 3.15pm to 5pm. School Holiday Club opens on weekdays from 7am to 5pm during school holidays. These clubs also use advance billing in quarter-hour increments with no minimum usage.

Getting There

The address is 96 Gosforth Road, Seascale, CA20 1ND. Enquiries can be made by telephone, email or the contact form, and the nursery offers visits to see the setting and discuss family requirements.

Funding and Paid Extras

Government-funded places are offered alongside privately paid childcare. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

For nursery childcare, snacks and drinks are included in the price, while a freshly cooked lunch with pudding carries a separate charge for children who require it. Before School Club includes breakfast, After School Club includes a snack, and School Holiday Club includes breakfast, snacks and drinks, with families supplying a packed lunch for that club.

• Independence before school. The December 2022 improvement point concerned older children's participation in daily routines, especially meals. On a visit, ask how children now practise pouring, serving and preparing their own food.
• Space for the youngest children. Dedicated indoor and outdoor areas serve under-twos. Ask to see how those spaces work during a typical day and how settling is organised for a new baby.
• Your childcare quotation. Hourly booking has no minimum usage, but nursery lunch is charged separately. Request a written quotation for your intended hours, including the funded-hours arrangements and any consumables charges.

PJ's Nursery suits families seeking flexible hourly nursery care and those needing term-time before-school or after-school provision, with a holiday club offering another attendance pattern. Dedicated under-two spaces and partly covered outdoor play areas give the setting tangible appeal.

The December 2022 findings support a positive assessment of the care and learning at that time. The most useful question for a visit is how older children's independence now develops through ordinary routines, especially meals.