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Nursery at Crosscanonby St John's CofE 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Daily outdoor learning and a classroom built around children's choices give this nursery its character. Nursery children belong to Caterpillar Class, the school's shared early years class, where activities combine adult guidance with time to explore independently. This places the nursery within the school's early years provision rather than in a separate setting.
Ofsted judged early years provision Good following its visit on 8 and 9 May 2024. Children settled quickly and received caring support through their exchanges with adults. That gives parents a dated assessment of the early years experience, rather than treating the school's overall grade as a nursery rating.
Play carries much of the learning. Classroom resources remain accessible for children to choose activities, while adults add experiences linked to individual needs and interests. Outdoor learning happens daily, giving children opportunities to practise skills beyond the classroom as well as indoors.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together seven connected areas of development. For nursery children, the emphasis falls on talking and listening, physical skills, relationships and managing feelings. Literacy, maths, exploring the world and creative expression develop alongside these foundations. The practical aim is to help children communicate, participate and become ready for further learning.
Children's own investigations sit alongside focused group activities. Adults join their play to extend ideas and introduce challenges; small-group work also supports maths and literacy. The wider early years approach uses Twinkl Phonics, with actions, songs and rhymes, and Rhino Readers books linked to the sounds children have learnt. Nursery vocabulary development has specific inspection support: in May 2024, joining in with songs, stories and rhymes helped children expand their language.
Creative work has concrete starting points. Nursery drawing includes making shapes into recognisable objects, adding details to faces and expressing feelings in pictures. These activities connect pencil control with communicating ideas. The early years programme also includes weekly music and Wednesday PE with specialist staff, adding guided movement and music to classroom play.
Settling can begin before the first session. Under the school's SEND offer, the early years teacher and special educational needs coordinator visit pre-school settings and meet parents to plan a child's start. Extra familiarisation visits can be arranged where needed. This gives families a way to discuss support before the child joins.
The early years team has high qualifications and low pupil-to-staff ratios. Parents can contact the class teacher through ClassDojo or by telephone, and use ClassDojo to view and comment on learning. For children needing additional help, support and adaptations can begin before a formal diagnosis. The school's Assess, Plan, Do, Review cycle includes targets agreed with parents and termly progress reviews.
Food has a place in the routine. Children receive a mid-morning snack, and drinking water is accessible throughout the day. Lunches are prepared on site and eaten together in the hall; a sandwich alternative is offered when the hot meal does not suit a child. All teaching spaces and entrances are at ground level, supporting step-free access.
Attending this nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply separately through the normal Reception admissions process and meet its deadline. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as separate decisions.
Caterpillar Class brings Nursery and Reception children together within the same early years class. That provides continuity of classroom surroundings, but it should not be read as an admissions advantage.
Contact the school on 01900 812326 or email head@crosscanonby.cumbria.sch.uk for nursery enquiries. The school is on Garborough Close in Crosby, Maryport.
Nursery lunch payments are handled through the school office; refer to the school for current charges. The school uniform combines pale blue tops with navy sweatshirts or cardigans and dark grey or black bottoms. Plain, unbranded items in the school colours are permitted, giving families flexibility over where they buy them.
They join Caterpillar Class, which includes Nursery and Reception children.
Yes. Early years children have outdoor learning every day, alongside classroom activities.
Parents can view and comment on learning through ClassDojo and contact the class teacher through the app or by telephone.
Children receive a mid-morning snack. School lunches are cooked on site, with a sandwich alternative when the hot meal is unsuitable. Nursery lunch payments go through the school office.
No. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline.
