Holme St Cuthbert School Nursery

Books, sound play and Welly Wednesday give this school nursery its character. Provision includes two-year-olds, with the headteacher and governors managing the nursery as part of Holme St Cuthbert School. Its setting is just outside Mawbray, beside Holme St Cuthbert’s Church on the Solway Plain.

The nursery is inspected within the school. At the Ofsted inspection on 21 and 22 May 2024, early years provision received a Good judgement. That is the early-years judgement within the school inspection, rather than a separate nursery rating.

Early reading has a named starting point here. Little Wandle programmes include Rhyme time, Foundations for Phonics and Love of Reading, alongside activities with books, language, rhymes and sounds. These give parents concrete examples of the nursery’s approach: children explore spoken language and books as they begin learning about reading.

Phonics teaching starts in Nursery and uses the progression in Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised. For families, that means the first steps in recognising sounds belong to a sequence that continues through school. Parent guides and videos explain sound pronunciation, blending and tricky words, giving adults a practical way to support that learning at home.

Welly Wednesday brings an outdoor element to the early-years experience. Old clothes and wellies are requested for EYFS children, so clothing needs to suit this activity rather than stay pristine. Nursery sessions run within a term-time day, with a choice of mornings or afternoons depending on availability.

The staffing structure includes an EYFS teacher and an EYFS teaching assistant, both listed as paediatric first aiders. The headteacher also holds the SENDCo and designated safeguarding lead roles, bringing early-years teaching, additional-needs coordination and safeguarding responsibilities together.

For children with special educational needs and disabilities, the school uses observations, progress information and conversations with families to identify needs. Support is considered individually, including needs that are temporary. Parents can approach any member of staff to discuss their child’s progress or concerns, which gives families a direct route into those conversations.

Class Dojo provides another communication route across the school community. Staff and governors undertake accredited safeguarding training each year.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route. The school directs applicants to Cumberland Council, and the annual closing date is 15 January. Applying earlier does not determine whether a place is offered.

Keep the two decisions separate: choosing nursery concerns your child’s early-years experience; applying for Reception requires its own application by the deadline.

The nursery operates Monday to Friday, from 9am to 3pm, during term time. Morning and afternoon sessions depend on availability, with staffing ratios also affecting which sessions can be offered. Nursery admission enquiries go through the school office, which also arranges visits.

For children aged three and over, the nursery page gives a wraparound window of 8am to 5pm. The separate school wraparound page gives shorter club hours, so confirm the applicable collection time when booking. That page requires advance booking and payment through Arbor; contact the school for current charges.

Call 01900 881242 or email admin@hstcuth.cumbria.sch.uk to enquire or arrange a visit. School term dates follow Cumberland Council’s calendar.