Silloth Primary School Nursery Review

Play, conversation and a morning that can stretch through lunch give Silloth Primary School’s nursery its character. This purpose-built provision takes children aged 3 to 4, starting in the term following their third birthday. It has its own Nursery class within the primary school. The emphasis is on speech and language, with adults supporting learning through play rather than treating nursery simply as preparation for the next classroom.

A nursery teacher leads the provision and also holds the Early Years Leader role. The September 2026 early years team includes a higher-level teaching assistant, a teaching assistant and an apprentice, alongside teaching staff. That is a shared early years team, rather than a nursery staffing ratio.

Children start at 8.30am and finish at either 11.30am or 12.30pm, depending on whether they stay for lunch. Within the session, children choose their own play and move between indoor and outdoor activities. Adults also introduce activities and join play with targeted interactions. Choice and adult involvement both have a place.

Stories bring the class together, while rhymes, songs and Squiggle/dough disco add different ways to participate. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines early literacy and maths with creative expression and exploration of the world. Communication, physical development and learning to manage feelings and relationships are its prime areas: the nursery day is about more than letters and numbers.

Leuven scales of well-being and involvement form part of the early years approach, directing attention to how children feel and how engaged they are. In July 2024, Ofsted’s ungraded inspection found that nursery games and rhymes established secure foundations in sounds, while children across early years communicated successfully and practised taking turns. These are useful foundations for both learning and playing with others.

Settling starts before the first session. Families are offered a home visit from the nursery teacher and teaching assistant to discuss interests, needs and difficulties. Visits to the setting then let children meet peers and explore. Parents can stay during induction, with staff and family agreeing how to reduce that support when the child is ready. The pace can differ between children.

Key-person responsibilities are divided between the teacher for N2 children and the teaching assistant for N1 children joining in January and April. This gives families an identified adult responsible for their child’s individual care and relationship with home. For additional needs, the school uses Pupil Passports to include children’s views in support planning; its SEND coordinator can be reached through the office.

Lunch takes place in the school hall. Daily fruit comes through the National Fruit Scheme for EYFS children, and chilled water is accessible throughout the day. The school excludes eggs and nuts, and families should flag allergies or intolerances so alternative arrangements can be made.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the Cumberland Council School Admissions Team and meet the normal Reception application deadline. Returning a nursery form directly to Silloth is a different process from applying for Reception. Treat the two decisions separately.

The July 2024 ungraded inspection also identified school-wide weaknesses in curriculum sequencing and opportunities to apply knowledge, and warned that a graded inspection could produce a lower whole-school judgement. Those concerns have a wider scope than the nursery findings above; they do not constitute a separate nursery grade.

Monday to Friday mornings run from 8.30am to 11.30am, with the lunch option extending attendance to 12.30pm. Children receiving the universal 15 funded hours use the shorter morning pattern. For children eligible for 30 hours, the nursery offers funded attendance through to 12.30pm within its morning provision; this is not a full-day timetable.

Families using the 15-hour pattern can pay for the lunch extension, which includes a meal. Children eligible for 30 hours who stay through lunch can purchase a school meal or bring a packed lunch. Contact the school for current charges.

Nursery applications go directly to school using the SA13 Nursery Application Form and Parent Declaration Form, with address and birth-date evidence. Open days and nursery visits offer a chance to meet the setting before choosing it. Enquiries and visit arrangements go through 016973 31243 or admin@silloth.cumbria.sch.uk.