Queen Street Nursery & Pre-School

Toy cars used for counting and a doctor's role-play area shaped around children's experiences give Queen Street a recognisable character. In October 2022, children's interests supplied the starting points for these activities, connecting learning to things they already wanted to explore.

Ofsted rated the nursery Good on 5 October 2022. At 19 Queen Street in Penrith, it has capacity for 20 children aged 3 to 60 months. That whole-setting capacity should not be confused with the number attending any particular session.

In October 2022, the indoor space was small and homely, with resources chosen around children's next steps. Numbered toy cars brought counting into play, while conversations in the doctor's role-play area gave children opportunities to extend their language through familiar experiences.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, the October 2022 examples show what that meant in practice: play, conversation and activities adapted to children's interests, with assessment used to plan what came next.

Outdoor learning was less consistent. In October 2022, winter brought reduced access to the outdoor area and fewer purposeful activities there, affecting children who preferred learning outside. This was an improvement priority, rather than a minor practical detail.

At the October 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and children making progress from their starting points, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Children had close relationships with their key person and other practitioners.

In October 2022, home learning linked back to nursery activities: families were encouraged to take an autumn walk, and children brought back acorns, conkers and leaves to discuss together. A tidy-up song helped signal the change from play to snack time, making routines understandable through familiar cues.

Each morning included physical activity in October 2022, and families supplied a healthy packed lunch for children staying all day. Staff received supervision and appraisals, but feedback on observed practice was not consistently accurate enough to help them improve their teaching.

The address is 19 Queen Street, Penrith, CA11 7XF. Opening hours are 8.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, with full-day care offered. The nursery operates across the year, closing for the last week of August and between Christmas and New Year.

In October 2022, funded early education was offered for two-, three- and four-year-old children. That is a dated participation statement, rather than a promise about a child's entitlement today.

• Outdoor learning through winter. October 2022 identified reduced outdoor access and learning opportunities in colder months. Families whose children prefer being outside should weigh this improvement priority.
• Feedback for practitioners. In October 2022, staff did not consistently receive accurate feedback on their practice. This matters because useful feedback helps staff refine teaching.
• Matching care to your child. For a child at the younger end of the 3-to-60-month age range, ask during a visit how daily care and activities are organised for their age.

Queen Street suits families seeking full-day care in Penrith who value learning built around children's interests. The October 2022 picture combines close relationships and practical learning examples with clear improvement priorities around winter outdoor provision and staff feedback. Those priorities deserve weight alongside the Good judgement.