Hawkshead Esthwaite Primary School Nursery Review

Mixed ages learning together give this nursery its character. Hawkshead Esthwaite Primary School has its own Nursery class. At the March 2024 inspection, its provision included two-year-olds. In March 2024, Ofsted described a welcoming nursery where children of different ages learned successfully alongside one another. For parents considering an early start in a school setting, that combination matters: the youngest children are included in the learning, rather than simply waiting for school to begin.

The nursery belongs to the primary school on Main Street in Hawkshead. Its early learning sits within the school's curriculum, with reading encouraged from the youngest ages.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the basis for early learning. In plain parent language, the curriculum is organised so that children build skills and knowledge over time. That includes the provision for two-year-olds. Learning has a planned direction, even at this early stage.

Books are part of that direction. In March 2024, children were being encouraged to enjoy reading from the beginning of early years, including the youngest nursery children. This makes interest in books part of their early education, rather than something reserved for later schooling.

Creative materials are accessible throughout early years provision, giving children opportunities to investigate and experiment. The emphasis is on exploration: children can work with resources as part of their learning, rather than encounter art only as a single organised activity.

Fletcher's Field is the school's named outdoor learning area. It shapes the wider school's curriculum and provides a setting for learning about the natural world. This is useful context for families drawn to an education with an outdoor emphasis, while the nursery's mixed-age learning provides its own social dimension.

Support planning involves both class teachers and support teachers, with parents involved from the outset when special educational needs are identified. Families therefore have a place in discussions about their child's support, rather than receiving a plan only after decisions have been made.

Curriculum adaptations. The March 2024 findings included school-wide concerns about adapting teaching for pupils with SEND and checking understanding in some subjects. These were school improvement priorities, rather than separate nursery judgements. They matter when discussing how learning will be matched to a child's needs.

Meals are prepared at school. The school lunch arrangements bring children with packed lunches and cooked meals together, supervised by midday staff. An allergen list can be requested, giving families a practical way to review ingredients.

Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through Westmorland and Furness Council School Admissions. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for school as separate decisions, and complete the Reception application through the normal process by the applicable deadline.

Nursery enquiries can go to the school office at admin@hawkshead.cumbria.sch.uk or by telephone on 015394 36354. The school encourages prospective families to visit and accepts contact to arrange a tour. A visit offers an opportunity to discuss the nursery day and see the setting before making a choice.