St Cuthbert’s Nursery, Pateley Bridge

Sand, water and small-world play give this nursery its character: children’s interests shape the learning. The Upper Nidderdale Primary Federation Nursery welcomes children from age three and operates inside St Cuthbert’s Victorian school building in Pateley Bridge. It is nursery provision within the school, with an outdoor area alongside its indoor play spaces.

At the October 2022 Ofsted inspection, early years provision was graded Good. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Play provides the starting point. Staff follow children’s interests and use them to extend learning and personal development, so the child-led approach connects activities to things children already want to explore. Sand and water offer opportunities to investigate materials; small-world play gives imagination somewhere to work. These are concrete ways into learning, rather than a day described only through lessons.

The nursery’s play areas support language, relationships and imaginative activity. For parents, that places talking and learning to play with others alongside exploration. An outdoor area adds another space for children’s experiences. In October 2022, nursery children played and learnt happily alongside Reception children: a useful picture of the social experience within the early years provision.

Seesaw connects families with their child’s learning. Each child has an individual journal containing photographs, observations and comments about experiences both outdoors and in the classroom. Parents and carers share that record, giving them concrete starting points for conversations about what their child has been doing.

Inclusion is a federation aim. The Upper Nidderdale Primary Federation aims for equal access to learning and teaching, with appropriate provision for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). This places access to the curriculum within the wider school support structure.

Operation Encompass also forms part of the federation’s safeguarding arrangements. This partnership between police and schools shares information to support children experiencing domestic abuse or violence, linking school support with concerns beyond the classroom.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the normal deadline. The school follows North Yorkshire County Council’s admissions procedures, with an electronic application route through the council. Treat choosing nursery and applying for Reception as two separate decisions.

Two standard teaching sessions divide the day: mornings run from 9:00 to 12:00, while afternoons run from 13:00 to 15:30. A separate lunchtime period runs from 12:00 to 13:00. Flexible hours and sessions can also be discussed to fit working patterns, giving families another booking option alongside those standard times.

The nursery is registered for Early Entitlement funding. Support of 15 or 30 hours depends on personal circumstances; families can contact any federation school about the funding available to them. Refer to the school for current charges.

Visits can be arranged through the office, allowing families to look around before deciding. For nursery enquiries, the School Business Manager is another contact. The nursery’s home is on King Street, Pateley Bridge.