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Nursery at Grange 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Stories, role play and a shared outdoor playground give Grange’s nursery its character. Shelduck, the nursery class at Grange CofE Primary School in Grange-over-Sands, combines learning through play with early reading, within a Church of England school. Children normally start in the term following their third birthday, with places offering 15 or 30 hours subject to availability.
Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good at its September 2023 inspection. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.
Books lead to activity here. Children listen to adults reading, act out stories and use related activities to recall what happened. They practise reproducing sounds and putting them in sequence, then work towards recognising initial sounds and blending. Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised provides the phonics approach. These are concrete beginnings to reading, rooted in listening and participation rather than simply recognising printed letters.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together movement, communication and emotional development with early maths, literacy, creative work and learning about the world. Planning takes account of individual needs and the interests of the group. Children are encouraged to investigate, persist when something proves difficult and develop ideas of their own. Indoor activities and outdoor experiences both contribute to that learning.
A large covered outdoor area and playground are shared with Reception, giving nursery children space for learning beyond their classroom. The September 2023 inspection also identified a school curriculum concern: some subjects needed clearer decisions about essential knowledge, because teaching could give pupils more information than they could retain. This was a school-level improvement action, rather than a finding specifically about nursery activities.
Tapestry connects classroom learning with home. Staff use this online record to share significant moments with parents and carers, drawing on observations and images to plan what a child should learn next. Families therefore get examples of their child’s experiences, rather than only an account of the curriculum. The school’s Greenhouse School Websites app also brings together letters, newsletters and dates, with notifications for parents.
For concerns about special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the first contact is the class teacher; families can also contact the school’s SENCO. This gives parents a direct route for discussing their child’s needs. In September 2023, children in early years understood that adults would protect and care for them, and settled into the expected routines and rules.
Food has a practical ordering routine. Old School Kitchen supplies the school’s meals, which are prepared on site each day. Orders go through Arbor and must be placed by the preceding Wednesday, eight days ahead; same-day ordering is not possible. Dietary requirements and allergen questions go to the school office. Children younger than five qualify for free milk under the UK Government’s Nursery Milk Scheme, with registration through Cool Milk.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Parents must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. Application forms are accessible through Westmorland & Furness School Admissions, and the school office can email them.
Practical familiarity is a separate benefit. Shelduck children share outdoor spaces with Curlew, the Reception class, and familiar staff support the transition. New starters are invited to sessions where they meet their teacher and explore the classroom. That preparation should not be confused with an admissions entitlement.
The 30-hour option depends on parents meeting the working-parent eligibility described by the school, as well as nursery space. An earlier start, from the third birthday itself, is sometimes possible when spare places exist, with that provision charged. Contact the school for current charges.
To arrange a look around, contact the school office on 015395 32392 or email admin@grange.cumbria.sch.uk. At collection, nursery children are handed directly to parents at the shelter outside their classroom. Families should avoid blocking neighbouring driveways or parking on double yellow lines, helping keep collection safe.
Children normally begin in the term after turning three. A charged start from the third birthday is sometimes possible if there are spare places.
Yes, subject to space. The 30-hour provision also depends on meeting the working-parent eligibility described by the school.
Children share books, act out stories and practise listening to and reproducing sounds. The phonics approach uses Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised.
No. Reception requires a separate application through the normal admissions process. Forms are available through Westmorland & Furness School Admissions or from the school office.
Contact the school on 015395 32392 or admin@grange.cumbria.sch.uk to arrange a look around.
