High Hesket CofE School Nursery Review

Songs, stories and rhymes give High Hesket’s nursery its clearest character: an early start built around listening and language within a village Church of England primary school. Nursery provision starts from age three and sits within the school’s Early Years unit. This is a school setting from the outset.

Ofsted graded early years provision Good at the inspection on 4 to 5 March 2025. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Language has a concrete place in the nursery day. Children hear stories, join in songs and encounter rhymes, giving them ways to enjoy words before learning to read. In March 2025, early years children behaved very well, worked together and followed familiar routines. For a young child, those routines make the day predictable while learning alongside others becomes part of the experience.

EYFS means Early Years Foundation Stage. Here, that early learning includes developing listening and language through songs, rhymes and stories, alongside learning to follow routines and cooperate with other children. The school’s wider curriculum uses windows, mirrors, doors: learning about the world, thinking about how that learning relates to oneself, then considering a response. It gives families a useful sense of the thinking behind activities rather than just a list of subjects.

Outdoor learning is another school-wide feature. The grounds contain a pond, an outdoor classroom and an Anderson shelter, alongside areas kept wild. CIDIO, short for Can I Do It Outdoors?, encourages staff to consider taking learning outside. These are features of the school’s grounds and teaching approach, rather than a nursery-only activity timetable.

The staff structure includes an EYFS class teacher, higher level teaching assistant roles and senior teaching assistants. Parents with questions about special educational needs and/or disabilities can arrange a discussion with the SENCo through the school. That provides a direct route for discussing a child’s support needs.

Food routines include milk free of charge for children under five and a fresh-fruit provision covering children up to and including Year 2. The school asks families to keep nuts and nut-containing foods, kiwi, mango and melon out of school because of allergies. This matters when packing food from home.

Filtered drinking water is accessible to children as needed. Named bottles stay at school during the week, go home on Fridays for cleaning and return on Mondays, giving families a specific care routine to follow.

Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process. The local authority handles the school’s admissions arrangements; choosing nursery should therefore remain a decision about the nursery experience, with the later school application treated separately.

The school’s EYFS day runs from 8.40am to 3.10pm, with doors opening at 8.35am. These are the EYFS school-day hours, rather than a nursery session booking pattern.

Wigglebugs extends care to nursery pupils on school premises. Breakfast club begins at 7.45am each morning and accepts children without advance booking; breakfast service stops after 8.15am. After-school care ends at 6pm and requires a booking for each session through the office, by telephone or email. It includes drinks and a snack. Ask the school for current charges.

Nursery uniform is optional. The school’s clothing colours are bottle green and white, and children can keep wellies at school for outdoor use. Enquiries go to 01697 473386 or admin@high-hesket.cumbria.sch.uk.