Jericho Primary School Nursery

Songs, shared stories and learning about Whitehaven give Jericho’s nursery its character. This governor-run provision takes three- and four-year-olds within Jericho Primary School at Windsor Court, Whitehaven. Children begin with language and play, while learning about the people and places around them.

Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 15 and 16 November 2023, which included the nursery. That is an early years judgement within the school’s inspection, rather than a separate nursery rating.

Two sessions shape the day: a morning from 9am to noon and an afternoon from noon to 3pm. Language learning starts with listening. Games, rhymes and songs introduce phonics, and children talk about familiar letters, including those in their own names. Read Write Inc is the school’s chosen phonics programme; nursery children begin its Set 1 sounds when they are ready. The emphasis is on readiness, giving children a playful introduction to the sounds used in reading.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) takes concrete form here through communication, shared play and exploration. In November 2023, nursery adults used games and singing to develop vocabulary and spoken language. Across early years, children learned to share and wait their turn, with stories providing ideas for playing together. This connects listening to the everyday business of getting along with other children.

Whitehaven supplies a starting point for understanding the world. Early years geography explores familiar surroundings and seasonal changes, encouraging children to observe and ask questions. History begins with discussing people’s lives and comparing things now with things in the past. Movement matters too: nursery PE includes practice in movement and ball skills. In November 2023, early years outings included journeys on local transport and beach visits to explore habitats, taking learning beyond the classroom.

Settling begins before the first session. Summer information meetings include new nursery families, and Stay and Play sessions introduce children and parents to classrooms and staff. Staff also make home visits before children start. These give families opportunities to build relationships ahead of the change in routine.

Meals connect the provision to the school’s own kitchen, where lunches are prepared and served. The school lunch offer includes a salad bar, filled jacket potatoes, sandwiches and hot meals, using a menu that repeats over three weeks.

For additional needs, the school assesses each child’s barriers to learning and adapts activities accordingly. Parents can arrange a meeting with the special educational needs coordinator through the office. This provides a direct starting point for discussing the support a child needs.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through Cumberland Council’s online admissions service and meet the normal deadline.

Preparation and allocation are separate matters. Summer meetings, Stay and Play sessions and visits before starting help children become familiar with staff and classrooms; they do not secure admission.

The nursery door opens at 8:50am, ahead of the 9am morning session. Breakfast Club runs from 7:30am to 8:45am, and Nursery After School Club extends care from 3pm to 5:30pm. These options give families childcare either side of nursery sessions.

Collection requires an authorised adult aged at least 16; older pupils at the school cannot collect nursery siblings. Contact the school office on 01946 514545 for nursery enquiries or to arrange a school tour.