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Nursery at Allithwaite 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Weekly cooking and play across large school grounds give Allithwaite’s nursery a practical, exploratory character. Children join Snowy Owls, the shared nursery and Reception class, with opportunities to pursue their interests while learning the routines of school life. This is a start within an existing classroom community, rather than a separate nursery setting.
The provision includes three- and four-year-olds. Teaching staff work alongside support staff, and learning takes place outdoors as well as indoors. Friendship, growing independence and getting used to routines are explicit parts of the nursery’s work, so the day involves learning how to be together as well as acquiring new skills.
Children help shape the learning. Weekly discussions about what they want to explore inform topics, while adults also organise teaching and guided group activities. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines learning through play with adult guidance: language, early mathematics, physical development and social skills develop alongside early reading and writing.
Inside and outside, activities include building, pretend play, investigating and making marks. Stories, singing and show-and-tell give children reasons to listen and speak, rather than treating language as an isolated lesson. Phonics Shed introduces nursery children to its characters, with daily phonics activities using actions, songs and stories. In November 2022, Ofsted found that the nursery curriculum developed children’s attention and listening effectively.
Large grounds provide space for outdoor learning. Seasonal walks, gardening and watching wildlife feature in the early-years curriculum, while the Morecambe Bay Curriculum project, developed with Lancaster University, connects learning with local habitats and the coast. These are concrete starting points for talking about the natural world. Weekly baking or cooking adds another practical strand, linking making food with learning about healthy eating.
Settling involves friendships, independence and familiar routines. In November 2022, nursery children settled promptly and paid close attention to adults. Families also have opportunities to share learning through play showcases, performances and celebrations, providing a connection between classroom activity and home.
For additional needs, parents can arrange a conversation with the special educational needs coordinator through the school office. The early-years approach combines observation with teaching and guided work, allowing planning to respond to children’s starting points.
Lunch comes from The Old School Kitchen in Cartmel. Choices include a daily hot dish, a vegetarian alternative, or soup with a sandwich; children can bring a packed lunch instead. Parents order through Arbor for the following week, with a Friday noon deadline. That makes lunch planning a task to build into the family week.
Wraparound care has an early-years-qualified lead with paediatric first-aid and food-hygiene certification. Breakfast includes toast and cereal, followed by play. After school, children can use a secure outdoor play space or the school hall, with board games, dressing up and sports among the activities.
Attending Allithwaite’s nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal school admissions process. The school directs applicants to Westmorland and Furness Council’s school admissions service.
Sharing Snowy Owls with Reception gives nursery children familiarity with the classroom community and its routines. That everyday continuity is useful preparation for the next stage; it remains separate from the allocation of a school place.
Breakfast Club starts at 8am on weekdays, and both breakfast and after-school care accept nursery children, including three- and four-year-olds. After-school booking options depend on how long a child stays, with snacks varying by option. Contact the school for current charges.
Visits can be arranged through the school. For enquiries, telephone 015395 32144 or email admin@allithwaite.cumbria.sch.uk. The school uses Identity in Barrow as its uniform supplier. Parents should also tell the office when collection arrangements change, so staff can act on the correct instructions.
No. Families must apply separately for Reception through the normal school admissions process, using Westmorland and Furness Council’s school admissions service.
Nursery children spend their time in Snowy Owls, the shared nursery and Reception class.
The early-years curriculum includes gardening, seasonal walks and wildlife observation. The nursery also uses the school’s large grounds for learning.
Yes. Breakfast and after-school clubs accept nursery children, including three- and four-year-olds. Breakfast Club begins at 8am, Monday to Friday.
Children can have school meals or bring a packed lunch. Parents order meals through Arbor a week ahead, placing the following week’s order by noon on Friday.
