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Nursery at St Bede's Catholic Primary 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
A keyboard, percussion instruments and daily stories give St Bede's nursery day some concrete character. This is nursery provision within the school's Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Unit in Carlisle, where nursery and Reception teams work together. For children, that places their first school experiences within a connected early years setting.
At the Ofsted inspection on 11 and 12 February 2025, early years provision was graded Good. That judgement covers the school's early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery.
Three-hour sessions shape the day, with a morning or afternoon option and full days for children entitled to 30 hours. Learning follows Development Matters, the framework used here to organise children's development and check their progress. In parent language, the EYFS brings together talking, movement and relationships with early literacy, maths, creative expression and exploration of the world.
Questions are part of the teaching approach. Adults encourage children to investigate, demonstrate how to think through a question and introduce vocabulary as their interests develop. Activities can change to reflect children's interests and developmental needs. In February 2025, the early years curriculum built children's learning progressively, and checks on their developing knowledge were effective. Children also sustained their attention during activities.
Music has tangible resources: percussion instruments and a keyboard form part of the EYFS provision children can use during their learning. Art experiences follow children's topics, with opportunities to experiment with materials linked to Development Matters. These give children ways to explore ideas through sound and making.
Read Write Inc supports daily Foundation Stage phonics, introducing links between sounds and their written forms. Stories have a separate place in the day: children have daily story time, and nursery is paired with an older class for reading each half term. Reading therefore includes both practising sounds and sharing books with other children.
Familiar routines support increasing independence. In February 2025, early years children followed established routines and were learning to handle their personal needs themselves. That matters alongside the learning activities: managing everyday tasks is part of the experience.
For additional needs, the school's SEND arrangements include staff training and collaboration with families, health professionals and the local authority. Parents can contact the SENCo through senco@stbedes.cumbria.sch.uk, giving them a direct route to discuss support.
Lunch falls between the two nursery sessions. Relish supplies school meals, and families can choose a hot lunch or send a packed lunch each day. Nursery meals are charged; payment goes through School Money, with orders placed on Relish at least a day ahead. An ordered meal remains chargeable unless cancelled by 9am, including when a child is absent.
Attending St Bede's nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the applicable deadline. The school's admissions page directs families to Cumberland County Council for admissions information.
The joint EYFS Unit means nursery and Reception classes already work closely together. That organisational connection is distinct from admissions: it should not be treated as an entitlement to a place.
Morning nursery runs from 8.45am to 11.45am; the afternoon session runs from 12.15pm to 3.15pm. Families entitled to 15 hours can choose mornings or afternoons, while those entitled to 30 hours can use full days. Additional sessions depend on space and require advance booking and payment through the School Money App. Contact the school for current charges.
Breakfast club begins at 8am and requires booking through School Money. Nursery children attend within the EYFS Unit, with breakfast-club drop-off at the nursery gate. Choices include cereal, porridge or a bagel, alongside fruit juice. Afternoon collection. Nursery currently has no after-school provision, so families needing care beyond 3.15pm must plan around that finish.
For nursery enquiries, contact the school office on 01228 528 274 or secretary@stbedes.cumbria.sch.uk. School visits can be arranged through the office.
Morning sessions run from 8.45am to 11.45am, and afternoon sessions from 12.15pm to 3.15pm. Nursery lunch is scheduled between 11.45am and 12.15pm.
Children entitled to 30 hours can attend full days. Families entitled to 15 hours can choose morning or afternoon sessions. Paid additional sessions depend on space and must be booked ahead through School Money.
Breakfast club starts at 8am, with nursery children attending in the EYFS Unit. It must be booked through School Money. Nursery currently has no after-school provision.
Yes. Relish provides charged nursery meals, or families can send a packed lunch. Meals require advance payment through School Money and ordering on Relish at least one day ahead.
No. Reception requires a separate application through the normal admissions process. The school's admissions page directs families to Cumberland County Council for information.
