Milburn School Nursery Review

Child-led play and short daily sound sessions give Milburn’s nursery its character. Children choose much of their learning, while adults add guidance and challenge. For parents, that means a day combining exploration with an introduction to reading, rather than one built entirely around formal lessons.

Milburn School takes nursery children aged three and four in Milburn, near Penrith. Its early years provision sits within Acorns Class, the school’s mixed-age group covering EYFS and Years 1 and 2. The village green serves as the school playground, and a woodland learning area adds a second outdoor setting.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum starts in nursery. Development Matters (2021) guides the approach: staff use observations, children’s interests and assessments to decide what to introduce next. In everyday terms, play, conversation and practical exploration sit alongside adult demonstrations and small-group teaching. Learning spaces and their activities change to match children’s interests and next steps.

Language gets daily attention through songs, discussion, rhymes and stories. Read Write Inc. begins in nursery with brief daily sessions introducing the first 30 sounds. This gives children a specific starting point for recognising the sounds used in reading. Progress checks take place each half term, with teaching groups organised around children’s learning level.

Outdoor learning draws on the school’s woodland space and Forest School approach. Practical activities follow children’s interests, with adults supporting independence, imagination and manageable risk-taking. The rural surroundings also supply real-life experiences for developing vocabulary and understanding the world.

In February 2025, Ofsted’s ungraded inspection recorded that early years children were beginning to connect letters with sounds. That inspection also raised school-wide concerns about the order of learning in some subjects and activities that did too little to consolidate knowledge; these were school findings, rather than a separate nursery judgement.

A key adult supports each child and builds contact with their family, giving parents a consistent relationship within the team. Visits and stay-and-play sessions form part of settling in, alongside communication with parents. Once children have started, daily conversations, meetings, workshops and shared learning activities provide opportunities to discuss progress and contribute experiences from home.

Assessment begins when children join early years, helping staff plan around existing skills and support needs. Speech and language are checked early too. Families and external agencies work with the team on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), while visual and practical activities help children understand feelings and manage their responses.

Lunch brings children together in the classroom. Families can choose a packed lunch or a cooked meal supplied by Appleby Primary School Kitchen, comprising a main dish and pudding. The nursery’s lunch option carries a supplement, so families should obtain current charges from the school when arranging sessions.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Parents must make a separate online application through Westmorland and Furness Council, by January in the year their child would start in September. Treat that application as a separate task when planning the move to school.

Transition activities help children become familiar with school routines. Preschool children and parents are invited to morning sessions during the preceding term, and a gradual September start can be used when needed. These arrangements support adjustment; they do not secure admission.

Three session choices give families distinct booking options: a full day from 9am to 3.30pm, a morning from 9am to noon, or an afternoon from 1pm to 3.30pm. Funded allocations of 15 or 30 hours can cover sessions, with additional hours charged when the allocation is exceeded. Contact the school for current charges.

Registration goes through the school office. A visit or free taster session can be arranged by calling 017683 61514 or emailing admin@milburn.cumbria.sch.uk, offering a practical way to explore the nursery before registering.