The FMS Inspection Score is FindMySchool's proprietary analysis based on official Ofsted and ISI inspection reports. It converts ratings into a standardised 1–10 scale for fair comparison across all schools in England.
Disclaimer: The FMS Inspection Score is an independent analysis by FindMySchool. It is not endorsed by or affiliated with Ofsted or ISI. Always refer to the official Ofsted or ISI report for the full picture of a school’s inspection outcome.
Nursery at Clifton 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
A writing shed, a Secret Garden and outdoor play in every weather give Hedgehogs Nursery its character. Children join after their third birthday and belong to Clifton Primary School’s early years provision in Clifton, near Penrith. This is nursery life within a shared school classroom: Hedgehog Class includes nursery children alongside Reception and Year 1.
Teachers and teaching assistants work together across the early years curriculum. For families choosing this setting, the distinctive combination is practical play, daily work on language and numbers, and familiarity with children beyond the nursery age group.
Children have time to choose their own play areas, interspersed with adult-led games, number practice and phonics. Singing, stories and circle time also feature each day. The Early Years Foundation Stage takes a practical form here: adults join children’s play, listen to their conversations and use what interests them to plan the next activities. Learning starts with doing.
Indoors, children can build, paint, use playdough or act out ideas in role play. Hedgehog Class also has a sensory area and a quiet den for reading. Whiteboards and clipboards make drawing and early writing possible beyond a single table, while a large interactive screen provides another way to practise skills.
Outside, a shelter connects to the classroom, with a mud kitchen, a walk-in sandpit and water play among its resources. Children also use the playground and Secret Garden daily. The writing shed extends mark making outdoors, so a child absorbed in outdoor play can draw or write there too.
Move to Write and Funky finger activities support the physical skills involved in using a pencil. Nursery rhymes and sound games build familiarity with spoken sounds; Read Write Inc begins in the nursery summer term. At the inspection on 1 March 2023, Ofsted found that early years children developed reading and number understanding well. That finding supports the emphasis on these foundations, rather than supplying a separate nursery grade.
Daily snacks include vegetables, fruit and other healthy foods, with water or milk to drink. Children can bring a packed lunch or have a school lunch. Meals are prepared on site, with hot and cold choices and provision for dietary needs; families order school meals through Arbor.
Tapestry gives each early years child a record of learning through photographs, notes and examples of their work. Paper journals are also used, and families can share experiences from home. This gives parents something concrete to discuss with their child, beyond asking what happened today.
For additional learning needs, the school uses adaptations to teaching and individual support. Where needed, the class teacher and SENDCO create a personalised plan and share it regularly with parents. The March 2023 inspection also described older children helping early years children at breaks and lunch, supporting their understanding of school routines.
Separate application. Attending Hedgehogs Nursery does not guarantee admission to Clifton’s Reception. Families must apply again through the normal Reception process by its normal deadline. The school directs admissions enquiries to Westmorland & Furness local authority.
Sharing Hedgehog Class with Reception children provides familiarity with the classroom and older classmates. That everyday continuity is distinct from the admissions decision: choosing the nursery should be a decision about the nursery experience itself.
Morning sessions run from 9am to noon, with doors opening at 8.45am. Afternoons are 12.30pm to 3.30pm, and a full day runs from 9am to 3.30pm. The nursery offers up to 30 childcare hours each week. Different timings may be accommodated according to individual circumstances; flexibility is something to agree, rather than assume.
Wraparound care extends from 8am to 5.30pm. Meals and wraparound bookings are made ahead through Arbor. Contact the school office on 01768 868817 or admin@clifton.cumbria.sch.uk to enquire or arrange a tour by appointment.
Wellies and waterproofs are essential for the outdoor nursery day. Uniform includes a navy sweatshirt or cardigan and a white polo shirt; clothing should be labelled. Being equipped for wet weather matters here because outdoor learning continues throughout the year.
Children can join after their third birthday.
Morning sessions are 9am to noon, afternoons are 12.30pm to 3.30pm, and full days are 9am to 3.30pm. The nursery may accommodate different timings for individual circumstances.
Yes. Children use the outdoor classroom, shelter, Secret Garden and playground daily, whatever the weather. They need wellies and waterproofs.
Tapestry records photographs, observations and examples of learning. The class also uses paper journals and welcomes contributions about activities at home.
No. Reception requires a separate application through the normal admissions process. The school directs families to Westmorland & Furness local authority for school admissions.
