Grasmere CofE Primary School Nursery Review

Friday Forest School and music in the Shepherd’s Hut give Grasmere’s nursery its character: learning reaches beyond the classroom. Starting from age three, children join the nursery provision within a Church of England primary school on Stock Lane in Grasmere. This is a school setting with regular contact between younger and older children, including shared lunches and play.

The Christian ethos has a named framework, the Learning Wheel. Its emphasis on children thinking for themselves sits alongside values explored through the year, giving everyday learning a moral and spiritual dimension.

Maths, snack time, stories and outdoor activity punctuate the early years day. Funky Fingers develops the hand control needed for drawing and writing, while the Learning Together activities include den building, number games and music in the Shepherd’s Hut. These give children different ways to practise: using their hands, working with others and making music.

Outdoor learning is a regular part of the day, with Forest School on Fridays. Sessions use Allan Bank, where hillside woodland includes tunnels, rocks and meadow. Children observe seasonal changes in trees and help one another outdoors. The setting gives them concrete things to investigate, rather than keeping learning on paper.

At the March 2025 inspection, Ofsted found that nursery stories, rhymes and songs helped children develop listening and spoken communication. A Pancake Day race also connected an early years activity with learning about the occasion. These examples show how language and shared experiences contribute to the nursery day.

The staffing structure includes an Early Years Lead Teacher and Early Years Support. Around meals, younger children eat alongside older pupils and sometimes play together too. Snack time is also part of the day, making eating a recognisable point in the routine.

Before starting, younger children are welcome at whole-school occasions such as Pancake Day and School Sports. Families can also arrange to look around. Those opportunities allow children to encounter the school community before their first nursery session.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. Treat that application as a distinct task when planning the move from nursery.

Shared meals and play already bring younger children into contact with older pupils. That provides familiarity with school life; it is separate from the allocation of a Reception place.

The school offers additional nursery time beyond its funded 15 hours a week. Extra services require advance booking, so families using them need to plan ahead. Contact the school for current charges.

Before School Club begins at 08:00 on weekdays. After School Club finishes at 17:00 from Monday to Thursday, while Friday Sports Club ends at 16:30. These services cover children aged three to eleven, giving nursery families options around the school day.

Outdoor clothing matters here. Younger children receive school waterproofs, and the uniform guidance calls for wellies and warm winter accessories. Unbranded clothing in school colours is accepted, and second-hand uniform is made available to parents. The Welcome Pack explains what to bring and where to go.

Enquiries can be made through the contact form or by calling 015394 35313. Nursery applications can be submitted early and held until the child reaches the appropriate age.