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Nursery at Greystoke 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Winter viewers in the forest give Greystoke’s nursery its own character. Children use them to spot seasonal changes at Welly Wednesday Camp, in the woodland around Greystoke Castle. Outdoor discovery is part of the routine, with something concrete to look for and talk about.
This is a teacher-led pre-school within Greystoke Primary School. The April 2026 Ofsted report assessed early years as meeting the Expected standard. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery.
Morning and afternoon sessions frame the day, with lunch between them. Learning takes an active form: the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum brings together communication, early reading, number and physical development through practical tasks and interaction. In April 2026, the early years curriculum had a sequenced plan for learning, with language receiving particular emphasis. Songs, stories and conversation help children acquire vocabulary and explain ideas.
The shared EYFS provision gives that approach recognisable detail. Traditional tales have prompted painted scenes and woodland models made from natural materials. Charanga’s Big Bear Funk brings singing and percussion into class activities. These give children different ways to respond to stories and sounds, rather than relying entirely on spoken answers.
Outside, the EYFS play area supports scooter riding, cycling and balance practice. Welly Wednesday extends the learning into the forest surrounding Greystoke Castle each week. Nursery children have used autumn scavenger sheets and winter viewers to examine seasonal change. The outdoor setting supplies the objects of study: trees, leaves and signs of the changing weather.
Individual learning needs. In April 2026, some early years activities and adult questions needed a closer fit to each child. This limited the progress those children could make. More precise matching of tasks, questions and interactions was the early years improvement priority, a consideration for families whose child needs carefully tailored support.
Settling rests on relationships. The April 2026 early years findings described children becoming comfortable quickly with adults and gaining confidence. Staff involved families from the beginning and shared information about learning and assessment. Those updates give parents something specific to build on at home. Tapestry provides an online learning journal, with registration arranged through a member of staff.
Emotions also become material for learning. Children in the EYFS class have discussed feelings and shared personal experiences through The Colour Monster. Making colourful toast linked that story to a practical activity. Children ate the toast as an afternoon snack.
Lunch runs between the two nursery sessions, with a charge covering the meal and supervision. School meals are prepared daily in the Village Hall, and menus rotate over three weeks. Packed lunches are an option. The school’s packed-lunch rules exclude nuts, chocolate, sweets and fizzy drinks, so families need to plan food accordingly. Staff have allergen training; the school office is the contact for allergen information.
For SEND questions, families can contact the school’s special educational needs coordinator by telephone. That provides a direct route to discuss support alongside the early years team.
Attending Greystoke’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 Reception as two separate decisions.
Morning sessions run from 9am to noon; afternoons run from 1pm to 3.30pm. Families can choose hours within the nursery’s 9am to 3.30pm operating window. Breakfast care and after-school care can extend that arrangement. After School Club runs from 3.30pm to 5.15pm on school evenings, with attendance possible on individual evenings or throughout the school week.
The pre-school offers both 15-hour and 30-hour funded childcare arrangements, with eligibility applying to the extended entitlement. Additional private sessions are also offered. Lunch and supervision are charged separately; contact the school for current charges.
Nursery enquiries go through the school office on 01768 483572 or admin@greystoke.cumbria.sch.uk. A pre-school application form is linked from the childcare page, giving families a direct next step.
Morning sessions run from 9am to noon and afternoon sessions from 1pm to 3.30pm, with lunch between noon and 1pm.
No. Nursery attendance does not guarantee Reception admission, and families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process.
Yes. Welly Wednesday takes children into the forest around Greystoke Castle each week. Nursery examples include autumn scavenger hunts and using winter viewers to spot seasonal changes.
The pre-school offers 15-hour and 30-hour funded childcare arrangements. Eligibility applies to the extended entitlement, and lunch and supervision carry a separate charge.
Early years staff share learning and assessment information with families. Parents can also register for the Tapestry online learning journal through a member of staff.
