Armathwaite School Nursery

A purpose-built early years space, with learning areas indoors and outside, gives Armathwaite’s nursery its own physical setting within the village school. Children can join in the term after turning three. Full-day places sit alongside morning and afternoon sessions, giving families a choice about how much of the school day their child attends.

The morning runs from 8:30am to noon, followed by an hour for lunch; the afternoon begins at 1pm and finishes at 3:30pm. Indoor and outdoor learning spaces give the nursery room for activity in both settings. Outdoor space is a substantial part of the wider school’s approach, where exploring nature and practical projects sit alongside classroom learning.

Subject specialists teach from the early years onwards. In September 2022, Ofsted found that the curriculum’s sequence helped early years children retain learning and achieve well. The practical point is continuity: staff consider what children already understand before introducing something new. Children’s ideas also have a place. Early years children are encouraged to contribute their views, making participation part of learning rather than simply following adult instructions.

There is a qualification to that picture. The same inspection identified insufficient staff training in a minority of subjects across the school, which limited some pupils’ learning; further training was required. That concern belongs alongside the positive early years findings, rather than being lost behind the specialist teaching model.

A full-time early years teacher leads the nursery, with early years teaching assistants providing support. This gives the provision a teaching team specifically identified with this stage of childhood. In September 2022, adults had established routines that early years children followed successfully. Familiar expectations help children understand how to take part in the day.

At lunchtime, families choose between sending a packed lunch and having a school dinner. The lunch break falls between the two sessions, so food is a practical consideration when choosing a full day.

For children with SEND, the school works with families and local services and adapts extra help to individual needs. Its SEND Local Offer, SEND Policy and SEN Information Report provide routes into understanding that support. Older pupils also acted as buddies to early years children in September 2022, giving younger children connections beyond their immediate teaching team.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the local authority’s normal admissions route. For September 2027 entry, the school gives 17 January 2027 as the closing date. Applications can be made online through the local authority, with a paper form requested from the school office. Keep this application separate from arranging nursery sessions.

Sessions operate on weekdays in school term time. The nursery offers 15 funded hours for children aged three and four, with 30 hours available to eligible working parents. Extra hours can be purchased beyond the funded allocation; contact the school for current charges.

Breakfast Club starts at 8am, and afternoon wraparound care runs from 3:30pm until 5pm. These extend the available day beyond the nursery sessions. Nursery applications use an application form returned to the school by email. Visits can also be arranged through the office: call 016974 72296 or email admin@armathwaite.cumbria.sch.uk.