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Nursery at Borrowdale 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Small-group play, outdoor exploration in all weathers and an early start with stories shape Borrowdale’s nursery. The published 2027/28 admission arrangements welcome children after their third birthday and set a maximum of 13 Nursery Class places. This is the school’s own nursery provision, with early learning taking place within its wider school life.
Ofsted judged early years provision Good at the inspection on 12 and 13 March 2024. Clear routines and participation in school life were early-years strengths, giving young children a familiar structure around their learning.
Play provides the starting point. Children explore, move and think creatively, with learning taking place inside and outdoors whatever the weather. Small groups allow activities to follow individual interests and needs. Planning can change during an activity, so an unexpected interest can become something to investigate rather than being set aside.
The Early Years Foundation Stage, or EYFS, connects seven areas of development. Talking and listening, movement, and learning about feelings and relationships provide the foundations. Number work, reading and writing, exploring the world and making art extend those foundations. For parents, this means play has a learning purpose across several areas, rather than simply filling the session.
Reading begins in the Nursery Year, with staff encouraging children to enjoy books. The indoor learning space and school grounds provide different places for exploration, supporting the balance between active outdoor learning and activities inside.
Curriculum precision. In March 2024, some early-years content needed clearer definition, limiting how deeply children could develop their knowledge. A separate school-wide concern involved activities that sometimes reduced attention and learning. These are useful points to discuss when considering how an activity builds towards its intended learning goal.
Settling starts with contact at home: nursery staff make a home visit after a family accepts a place. That gives parents an opportunity to introduce their child’s needs and routines before attendance begins.
Support for special educational needs and disabilities follows the school’s graduated process. Assess-plan-do-review means identifying a need, planning support, trying it and checking the result. Depending on the child, help can take place within the classroom, individually or in a smaller group. Individual Education Plans are discussed with parents, so families can understand the targets and support being arranged.
Wheelchair access and an accessible toilet are concrete features of the school environment. Parents can contact teachers or the SENCo by telephone or email to discuss their child or arrange a meeting, keeping communication open beyond scheduled appointments.
After-school care is run by school staff and includes refreshments and a snack. Its base is the central hall, with supervised outdoor time too, giving children places to play after their nursery activities finish.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must submit a separate Reception application through Cumberland’s local authority route by 15 January.
The school’s admission arrangements labelled 2027/28 do not include nursery attendance as a priority criterion. Their oversubscription rules determine allocation when applications exceed places. Being familiar with the school and being entitled to a place are separate matters: parents need to complete the Reception application even when their child already attends nursery.
The published 2027/28 admission arrangements describe 30-hour funded nursery places and paid Extended Nursery Provision for families entitled to 15 hours; contact the school for current charges. Nursery applications use the school’s application form, followed by a request to bring the child’s birth certificate to the office.
After School Care runs from 3:15pm until 5pm and accepts children from Nursery upwards. Booking and payment go through the office beforehand. Wraparound availability. Care operates during term time for children attending Borrowdale School, with capacity dependent on staffing. Allocation is first come, first served, with stated priority for full-time places, siblings and families eligible for Pupil Premium funding. Families relying on it should factor those conditions into their plans.
To arrange a school visit, telephone 01768777686. Nursery children can also use the school minibus without a transport charge. Staff escort bus passengers at collection, and parents should notify the school early if their child’s usual arrangements change.
Under the published 2027/28 admission arrangements, children are welcomed after their third birthday and the Nursery Class has a maximum of 13 places.
No. A separate application is required through the local authority by 15 January. Nursery attendance is not a priority criterion in the arrangements labelled 2027/28.
The EYFS combines communication, physical and emotional development with literacy, mathematics, understanding the world and expressive arts. Children learn through play and exploration indoors and outdoors.
Nursery staff carry out a home visit after a place has been accepted, allowing families to discuss their child before attendance begins.
Yes. After School Care runs from 3:15pm to 5pm during term time. Places must be booked through the school office in advance and are subject to staffing capacity and the school’s allocation priorities.
