Chapel Street Infants and Nursery School: nursery review

Messy clothes and wellies belong in the nursery bag here. Chapel Street’s youngest children spend substantial time on outdoor activities, alongside messy play, giving this school nursery a practical, hands-on character in Dalton-in-Furness.

Provision starts with Pre-School, which admits children from their second birthday when space permits, followed by Nursery for three-year-olds. Progression between the two normally happens in the term after a child turns three, with flexibility around readiness and available places. Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good at its inspection on 25 and 26 April 2023; this judgement covers early years within the school.

Morning and afternoon sessions provide the basic shape of the day. Outdoor activity is a substantial part of nursery life, so a coat and wellies are everyday equipment rather than occasional extras. Clothes need to withstand messy activities. That makes practical clothing more useful than a formal nursery uniform.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the nursery’s early learning context. In April 2023, children were starting phonics during early years, with letters and sounds introduced daily. Nursery children also treated their books and learning materials carefully, connecting early reading with learning how to look after shared resources.

The enrichment plan for Pre-School and Nursery includes an Animal Park visit and Greenlands Farm, alongside Science Day and Number & Puzzle Day. Celebrations include Diwali and Chinese New Year. These give children experiences beyond ordinary classroom activity, from encounters with animals to exploring different celebrations.

Curriculum sequencing. Some early years learning areas needed clearer decisions about essential knowledge and the sequence for teaching it in April 2023. Staff also needed fuller guidance in those areas. For parents, this qualifies the Good early years judgement: the curriculum’s teaching steps were not equally clear throughout.

Settling starts before the first session. Early years staff make a home visit for every Nursery child, giving parents an opportunity to raise concerns before their child begins. Where needed, information can be shared confidentially with health visitors or speech and language therapists to help plan support.

Parents can arrange discussions with staff through the school’s open-door policy. Additional needs may become apparent after a child starts nursery; concerns and progress are discussed with families, with support potentially recorded through a Learning Journey or Individual Education Plan. The school also has a Sensory Room for sensory play and the Burrow, where tailored learning supports children’s physical, emotional and learning needs.

Meals are supplied by Dane Ghyll Community Primary and Nursery School and are offered to children in both Pre-School and Nursery. Lunchtime can be purchased alongside additional hours, so families choosing a longer day need to include that arrangement in their planning.

Attending Chapel Street’s nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline.

Transition support is a separate matter. When children change classes within the school, information goes to their next teacher in advance. For children with SEND, the transition programme includes accompanied classroom visits, work with the SERIS worker and a photo album showing their next classroom and teacher. These provide concrete ways to prepare for change.

Pre-School and Nursery sessions run from 8:45 to 11:45am and from 12:15 to 3:15pm. For three-year-olds, the school describes 15 funded hours each week from the term after their third birthday, subject to places; a further 15 hours depend on parents meeting the criteria. Two-year-old funding is means tested and may apply from the term after the second birthday.

Additional hours, lunch and sessions before or after school can be purchased. Contact the office on 01229 467465 or office@chapelstreet.cumbria.sch.uk for nursery enquiries and current charges. Uniform is optional in both nursery groups; a school cardigan or sweatshirt is a choice, while suitable outdoor clothing is essential.