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Nursery at St Mary's CofE 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Rhyme, stories and time to pursue an idea give St Mary's nursery its character. Part of the school's Early Years provision on Kendal Road in Kirkby Lonsdale, it combines adult teaching with play that children direct themselves. Language is a clear thread through both.
Ofsted judged the school's early years provision Outstanding at the inspection of 28 and 29 January 2025. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separate nursery inspection.
Children have sustained stretches of play alongside shared stories, guided activities and small teaching groups. Staff use observations of children's interests and development to decide what comes next. A group might introduce a theme or discuss the day's learning; independent play then gives children time to explore and return to their ideas.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together learning about language, relationships and movement with early reading, number, creativity and understanding the world. Here, White Rose Maths supplies the maths approach, with practical objects, games and rhymes among the teaching resources. Directed maths and phonics teaching takes place in nursery when children are developmentally ready.
Listening comes before formal phonics. Nursery children explore sounds made by voices, instruments and their surroundings, alongside rhythm, rhyme and body percussion. Read Write Inc begins according to readiness, potentially during the spring or summer term for some nursery children. In January 2025, speech and language development through stories and rhyme was a specific nursery strength identified in the inspection.
Indoor classrooms and outdoor learning areas contain materials children can use in different ways. The outdoor area is shared with Reception. Staff follow Wait, Watch, and Wonder: they observe what a child intends before joining the play, then use conversation and questions to extend it. This gives children room to make choices while keeping adult help close.
Settling begins before the first term. Families have an initial visit, followed by several sessions for children to become familiar with the setting. ClassDojo carries photographs, videos and messages about learning, as well as class updates and communication between parents and staff. It gives families a way to keep the conversation going between visits.
The early years lead also holds the school's SEND coordinator role and teaches in nursery. Support includes WELLCOMM for listening, attention and vocabulary, Move-to-Write for movement and hand skills, and brief Pinny-Time interventions matched to individual needs. Nursery and Reception practitioners also provide weekly individual speech work with guidance from a speech and language specialist. These are specific routes for addressing a child's next steps.
Lunch club has a nursery assistant who also leads the club, linking lunchtime care with the nursery team. Breakfast Club includes nursery children too; cereals, fruit, yoghurt, pancakes and toast are among its food choices. Breakfast can be provided for children arriving before 8am, with an additional charge.
Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through their home local authority's admissions team and meet the normal deadline. Treat that application as a separate task from arranging nursery attendance.
Familiarity is supported through shared outdoor space and adults whom children get to know before moving classes. Transition arrangements include days, meetings and information for families. These help prepare children for the change; they do not secure admission.
Nursery enquiries and requests for an application pack go directly to the school office at admin@stmarys-kl.cumbria.sch.uk. The office also handles discussions about 15-hour and 30-hour nursery provision, lunch club and after-school care.
Breakfast Club uses the school hall from 7:45am to 8:45am each morning. After School Club runs there from 3:15pm to 5:30pm during term. Extended services require advance booking and payment through Arbor; breakfast places are limited. Refer to the school for current charges.
Parking. The lay-by includes four parking bays and a designated drop-off zone. Parents accompanying children onto the playground or visiting the office must use designated parking rather than leave a vehicle in the drop-off zone. Plan the walk from parking into the handover routine.
The EYFS combines communication, movement and relationships with early literacy, maths, creativity and understanding the world. White Rose Maths is used, while Read Write Inc starts when a child is ready.
An initial nursery visit is followed by several sessions before term starts. Parents and staff can exchange messages through ClassDojo.
Yes. There is a lunch club for nursery children, and Breakfast Club accepts children from nursery upwards. Breakfast provision for arrivals before 8am carries an additional charge.
Request an application pack directly from the school at admin@stmarys-kl.cumbria.sch.uk.
No. A separate Reception application goes through your home local authority's admissions team. Shared outdoor space and transition activities support familiarity, but do not secure a place.
