Vicarage Park CofE Primary School Nursery

Play, familiar routines and conversation shape the introduction to school life at Vicarage Park Nursery. Children can join from age three, within the Church of England primary school on Vicarage Drive in Kendal. The nursery’s approach centres on helping children become comfortable with school routines while giving them opportunities to explore and get to know the adults around them.

Learning combines activities guided by adults with play that children choose themselves. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework: physical development, communication, relationships and early learning develop together. Development Matters helps staff identify manageable next steps, with observations of children informing what they plan next. This makes children’s existing interests and development part of the planning process.

Stories give learning a focus. Books introduce topics, while rhymes, songs and conversations give children opportunities to practise listening and expressing ideas. Mathematics includes direct teaching as well as exploration through play, connecting mathematical thinking with everyday experiences. Adults also support children as they collaborate, ask questions and learn to handle their feelings.

Outdoor learning forms part of the school’s early years approach, including Forest Fridays and physical play outside in different weather conditions. The environment changes in response to children’s interests and learning needs. In February 2023, Ofsted found that early years activities extended children’s existing knowledge and gave them a positive beginning to their education.

Settling into nursery is supported through regular routines, play and interactions with adults. Working closely with parents is part of this approach, so the relationship between home and nursery matters from the start.

The school’s inclusion arrangements give families a clear starting point for developmental concerns: speak with the class teacher. Teachers plan support with the Special Educational Needs and Disability Coordinator (SENDCO); where appropriate, an additional adult can help in class, individually or in a smaller group. Support is reviewed through discussions with parents and the other people involved. Informal conversations supplement the usual reporting arrangements.

Accessibility includes ramps at every doorway and two platform lifts across the school. For meals, the school uses Orian Catering to prepare lunches on site. Parents use School Hub to order, with a same-day deadline of 9:30am; cancellations for illness also need to be made by that time. These are school meal arrangements, rather than a description of a separate nursery menu.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through Westmorland and Furness Council. Treat choosing nursery and applying for Reception as two separate decisions.

For the school’s 2026 Reception admissions cycle, the stated closing date was 15 January 2026. That deadline has passed. The application route includes the council’s online system, with a paper application option also described. Familiarity with school life does not replace this application process.

Funded nursery education starts from the term following a child’s third birthday, with at least 15 hours available. Eligible working parents may qualify for another 15 hours under the working parent entitlement. That additional allocation depends on eligibility.

The school office arranges nursery visits. Contact 01539 735442 or admin@vicaragepark.cumbria.sch.uk to enquire or book a visit. The nursery sits within the school at Vicarage Drive, Kendal, LA9 5BP.