Burlington CofE School Nursery

Bank Wood gives Burlington’s youngest children a weekly change of scene: Forest School is part of life in Class 1, where nursery children learn alongside Reception and Year 1. This is a mixed-age beginning within a village primary school in Kirkby-in-Furness, with entry from age three.

The nursery belongs to Burlington CofE School rather than operating as a separate setting. Its Class 1 teacher also leads the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), and the class has a higher-level teaching assistant. Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good following its inspection on 22 and 23 June 2023. That judgement covers early years across the school.

Outdoor learning has a named destination. Class 1 visits Bank Wood weekly, with Forest School trained staff within the school team. Den building, cooking bread and watching wildlife feature among the Forest School experiences described by Burlington. These give children opportunities to practise social skills and explore the natural world through activity.

Closer to the classroom, younger children have a play area directly accessible from the classroom. The school timetable includes a midday meal in the hall and a short afternoon break for Class 1. Nursery children also take part in collective worship, with occasional exceptions.

The curriculum includes the EYFS: learning for young children that brings together communication, practical exploration and developing independence. Burlington’s Class 1 overview for 2022-2023 describes nursery preparation for phonics through daily listening and speaking games using phase 1 Letters and Sounds. Rhyme, sounds from the surroundings and body percussion are examples. The emphasis at this stage is listening and language.

That dated overview also describes practical maths using White Rose, opportunities to make marks and write for a purpose, and a shared story to finish the day. Lists, notes and labels give early writing something concrete to do.

Relationships support language development. In June 2023, positive exchanges between early years children and staff contributed strongly to their communication skills. This is a useful complement to the listening games described in the nursery curriculum.

Parents have several ways to stay in contact. Teacher appointments can be arranged before or after school, and email provides another route. Newsletters and calendar updates go through Our Schools App. The 2022-2023 Class 1 overview also describes sharing learning with families through Tapestry, giving parents examples of classroom experiences to discuss at home.

For additional needs, the headteacher holds the SEND coordinator role. This gives families a defined contact within the school’s leadership team. Lunch takes place in the school hall, and meal ordering is managed through LunchShop.

A separate application. Attending Burlington’s nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply again through the normal Reception admissions process. Burlington directs Reception applicants to the Cumbria Council website; nursery enquiries and applications go through the school office.

Sharing Class 1 with Reception children means the nursery already sits within the same classroom organisation as the next year group. That is a feature of the learning setting, not an admissions entitlement. Keep the classroom experience and the Reception application separate when making plans.

The school day starts at 8:55am and finishes at 3:15pm. At collection, Class 1 children leave through the front early years area. These are the school timetable arrangements, rather than a description of nursery booking patterns.

For a nursery information pack or an application, contact the office on 01229 889 210 or email admin@burlington.cumbria.sch.uk. Personal tours can also be arranged through the office, providing a direct way to explore the mixed-age classroom organisation.

Burlington’s school uniform combines a royal blue logo jumper with a white shirt or polo and grey or navy bottoms. One Identity in Barrow-in-Furness and Tesco are listed suppliers. The Class 1 guidance for 2022-2023 asks for waterproof clothing and wellies or walking boots for Forest School, with school clothes brought for changing afterwards.