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Nursery at Burgh by Sands School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Wellies kept in Wren Class and books borrowed for family reading capture the nursery’s character: outdoor exploration and shared stories sit alongside learning through play. Nursery children share this early years unit with Reception, bringing older peers into their everyday learning rather than keeping the youngest children in a separate class.
Children can start in the term following their third birthday, with entry points in autumn, spring and summer. A class teacher and teaching assistant work in Wren Class. The mixed-age arrangement gives younger children opportunities to practise conversation and social skills with older classmates.
Play carries the curriculum. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines learning to communicate, manage feelings and move confidently with early reading, number work, creative activities and discovering the world. Birth to 5 guidance supports planning, while staff set individual next steps from what children already understand. This makes the curriculum about development as well as subject knowledge.
A curiosity approach encourages children to investigate and try things independently. Forest School and experiences beyond the classroom connect learning with the surrounding community. Indoor and outdoor learning spaces both form part of the nursery provision; the decked area is also the nursery’s entrance. Wellies stay at school, and clothing needs to suit outdoor play in changing weather.
Specific activities give that approach substance. Early years art involves experimenting with texture, design and colour. Science starts with observing materials, weather, animals and plants. Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised introduces nursery children to listening carefully and the foundations of joining sounds together and separating them. Wren Class also lends books for a week, giving families stories to enjoy together at home.
At the October 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that outdoor exploration supported early years children’s independence and confidence, with language and number skills developing well. The same inspection identified a school-wide need for more precise teaching of knowledge in some foundation subjects; that concern was not identified specifically as a nursery weakness.
A comfort toy can help at the start of the year. Wren Class allows these for children who need them, stores them in bags and gradually reduces their use as confidence grows. Parents follow learning through the Tapestry online journal, creating a connection between classroom achievements and home. There are also two parent evenings each year and a report at the end of the summer term.
Lunch is a shared social part of the day. Orian cooks school meals on site, and children eat in the hall with midday supervision. Choices include vegetarian food, hot meals, sandwiches and jacket potatoes, with a daily salad bar. Families can pre-order through School Hub or send a packed lunch. Packed lunches must exclude nut products, sweets, chocolate bars and fizzy drinks.
For additional needs, the school’s SENCo provides a contact route through the office. The early years lead also holds a deputy safeguarding role, linking the nursery team with the school’s safeguarding structure.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Cumberland Council, rather than treating their nursery application as covering both stages. The usual application window opens in November and closes in mid-January; the council provides the exact dates for the relevant year.
Sharing Wren Class means nursery children already spend time alongside Reception pupils. That is everyday familiarity with the next stage, separate from the admissions decision.
Morning sessions run from 8:50am to 11:50am, with doors opening at 8:45am. Afternoons run from 12:30pm to 3:30pm, and a full day runs from 8:50am to 3:30pm. The nursery can try to accommodate different timings within the day.
Eligible families can access funded places covering 15 or 30 hours weekly. Additional sessions beyond a child’s 15-hour entitlement carry a charge, and nursery school lunches are charged separately. Contact the school for current charges. Applications and visit arrangements go through the school office.
Wraparound care. Nursery pupils cannot currently use the school’s breakfast or after-school clubs. Families needing care beyond nursery sessions must account for this when planning their working day.
Uniform logos are optional. Wren Class asks for a daily water bottle and a book bag, and children wear PE kit on Wednesday afternoons.
Children can join from the term after their third birthday, at the start of the autumn, spring or summer term.
Morning sessions are 8:50am to 11:50am, afternoons are 12:30pm to 3:30pm, and full days are 8:50am to 3:30pm. Morning doors open at 8:45am.
No. A separate application through Cumberland Council is required. The usual closing point is mid-January; check the council’s dates for the relevant application year.
No. The school currently excludes nursery pupils from its wraparound provision.
Yes. Full-day children can have a charged school lunch or bring a packed lunch. School meals can be pre-ordered through School Hub, and packed lunches must contain no nut products.
