St Bridget's Catholic Primary School Nursery Review

A mud kitchen, a play house and stories to join in with give St Bridget's nursery its character: practical play alongside a clear emphasis on language. The provision includes two-year-olds and has its own class within the Catholic primary school in Egremont. A qualified teacher leads the class, giving the nursery a distinct place within the school rather than simply sharing an older children's class.

Ofsted graded the school's early years provision Good at its inspection on 15 and 16 November 2023. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.

Language grows through participation here. At the November 2023 inspection, nursery children enjoyed stories and rhymes, used recently learned words during play and developed their communication skills well. These are useful foundations for children learning to express an idea, explain what they want and join a conversation.

The Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum gives nursery learning its framework. In practical terms, the early years design activities include exploring materials, using ICT toys, making things and talking about ideas and feelings. Development Matters informs this expressive arts and design work. Baking also features, alongside learning about healthy food: children can explore a process as well as its finished result.

Outside, the nursery's yard is secured by a gate. A chalkboard and sand shed sit alongside the mud kitchen and play house, with bikes and other outdoor equipment stored nearby for ongoing outdoor learning. This gives play several different starting points rather than relying on one activity. Catholic teaching has a named programme too: Come & See supports religious education in Nursery.

Curriculum oversight. In November 2023, leaders needed a clearer understanding of children's early years learning in a few subjects. The improvement requirement concerned checking how successfully those subjects prepared children for their next learning steps. Families should weigh that concern alongside the positive language findings.

Support for the youngest children was a strength in November 2023: staff helped early years children, including two-year-olds, feel secure. The nursery teacher also holds the school's deputy head and special educational needs coordinator roles. Nursery teaching assistants form part of the team, linking classroom care with the school's wider support structure.

For additional needs, the school provides help through its own staff and external specialists. Parents can contact the SEND coordinator through the office. Class Dojo provides another connection between home and school, including individual messages, while parents' evenings and curriculum letters keep families informed about learning.

Meals come from the school's kitchen, which prepares hot lunches with a changing menu. Children eat in the hall. Midday supervisors help at the serving hatch and assist with cutlery when needed, so lunch includes practical support as well as food. Children bring a water bottle filled afresh each day and can refill it; the hall has a filtered water cooler.

Attending this nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. Choosing the nursery and applying for Reception are separate decisions; nursery attendance should never be treated as securing the next place.

The morning session runs from 8:45am to 11:45am. The timetable's prose gives the afternoon session as 11:45am to 3:15pm, although its table labels the period after lunch from 12:15pm. For children staying for a school dinner, the nursery session description places lunch between 11:45am and 12:15pm.

Enquiries go through the school office on 01946 820320 or admin@st-bridgets-pri.cumbria.sch.uk. Contact the school for current meal charges. These session times make the office enquiry a useful starting point for arranging attendance around family commitments.