St Mark's Nursery, Natland

A room of its own, outdoor play each day and forest school in the Hidden Haven give St Mark's Nursery a distinct identity within its primary school. Children aged 2 to 4 have a large classroom beside Reception, a separate entrance and an outdoor area reserved for them. The arrangement combines a nursery base with access to bigger spaces for movement and exploration.

Governors oversee this community provision at St Mark's CofE Primary School in Natland. Its connection to the school is practical: nursery children can use the hall for PE, explore the adventure playground and spend time in the school garden.

Choice shapes the day. Children pick their own toys and can move between indoor and outdoor play. A changing role-play space sits alongside a home corner; picture books include stories and factual titles. Drawing and early writing materials are spread around the room, rather than confined to a single activity.

Playdough, painting and sensory materials give children ways to experiment with texture and colour. Construction toys, miniature play scenes and maths activities are daily options, while puzzles and games suit quieter periods. Singing and performance also feature in play. These are concrete ways for children to practise communication, imagination and coordination.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) connects this play with learning: developing language, relationships and physical skills alongside early literacy, maths, creativity and understanding the world. Adults plan around children's interests and needs, mixing activities children choose with those staff lead. Small groups organised by age provide time for teaching and checking progress; resources and challenges change during the week.

Phase 1 phonics concentrates on listening, recognising sounds, rhythm and rhyme, with speech and language given emphasis. Physical activity has its own structure too: a PE lesson takes place weekly, alongside a forest school session in the Hidden Haven, whose outdoor classroom, garden and wildlife space extend learning beyond the nursery room.

The nursery team includes a teacher and a senior practitioner. The senior practitioner's work with the youngest children focuses on communication and their social and emotional development, linking care with the skills needed to join in with others.

In February 2023, Ofsted described children starting early years at two learning familiar routines from an early age. That gives parents a useful picture of the emphasis on predictable habits.

For additional needs, the school's support arrangements include meetings with parents and individual plans. Speech and Language, Early Years and Educational Psychology are among its external agency links. Parents can arrange a meeting with the SENDCo through the office, giving them a direct route to discuss support.

Attending St Mark's Nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. Treat choosing nursery and applying for school as separate decisions.

Sharing a site and using school facilities gives children experience of the wider school setting. It does not secure admission.

Nursery follows the school's terms. Morning sessions run from 8.45 to 11.45am; full days run from 8.45am to 3.15pm. A lunch period runs from 11.45am to 12.45pm.

MOSAICS extends care for children aged 3 and over, subject to limited places. Breakfast care runs from 7.45 to 8.45am, with after-school care from 3.15 to 5.45pm, finishing at 5pm on Fridays. Nursery children use the nursery classroom for these clubs. Book through Arbor in advance, as sessions can fill.

To arrange a visit, contact the school office at office@st-marks.cumbria.sch.uk or call 015395 60719. For wraparound enquiries, use mosaics@st-marks.cumbria.sch.uk.