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 Goodly Dale 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.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 wild meadow and woodland give Goodly Dale’s school setting a clear outdoor character. Its nursery provision is for three- and four-year-olds at Goodly Dale Primary School on Lake Road in Windermere, with morning or afternoon sessions forming the usual attendance pattern. For families seeking a regular half-day routine, that is a useful starting point.
Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good following the inspection on 1 and 2 October 2024. This is an early years judgement within the school’s inspection, rather than a separate nursery rating.
Three-hour sessions, repeated five times a week, provide the basic shape of nursery attendance. The curriculum has its own Nursery Long Term Curriculum overview, alongside planning for physical education and mathematics within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The focus is on building children’s early knowledge and skills.
Outdoors, the school’s Forest School approach gives children scope to choose and develop their own play. All classes take part at least weekly, including in wet weather. The meadow and woodland provide a natural setting for this work, making outdoor learning a regular part of school life rather than an occasional outing.
The school’s Forest School activities include recognising wildlife and plants, building dens, making environmental art and solving problems together. These are opportunities to practise language, independence and coordination through practical activity. They describe the school’s approach; they are not a fixed timetable for each nursery session.
In October 2024, curriculum planning in most subjects began with the early years. There were also school-wide weaknesses: some subjects needed clearer decisions about essential learning, and assessment did not consistently uncover and resolve gaps quickly enough. These concerns apply to the school’s curriculum and assessment, rather than constituting a separate nursery judgement.
Settling into routines was a strength of the early years in October 2024. Children adapted promptly and related positively to one another, giving parents a concrete indication of how the social side of starting school was working at that point.
For families considering additional needs, the school provides a SEND Information Report and SEND Policy, both dated 2024, plus a policy covering medical conditions. These provide a route into understanding the school’s arrangements for special educational needs and disabilities and medical support.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal school admissions process, using Westmorland and Furness Council’s school-place application route. Treat that application as a distinct step when planning your child’s next year.
The standard funded pattern covers 38 weeks, with five three-hour sessions each week, taken in the mornings or afternoons. Other flexible arrangements may be possible. This is a term-time pattern, so families should plan care around school holidays as well as their chosen sessions.
Up to 15 funded hours weekly are available from the term following a child’s third birthday. A further 15 hours depend on parental eligibility. The school invites families to discuss nursery arrangements and organise a visit. Contact the office on 015394 46946 or email admin@goodlydale.cumbria.sch.uk.
The nursery admissions information covers three- and four-year-olds. Funded provision begins in the term after a child’s third birthday.
The usual pattern is five three-hour sessions weekly, either mornings or afternoons, over 38 weeks. Other flexible options may be possible.
Up to 15 hours a week are available from the term after the third birthday. An additional 15 hours depend on parental eligibility.
No. Families must apply separately for Reception through the normal admissions process via Westmorland and Furness Council.
Yes. Contact the school to discuss nursery arrangements and organise a visit, using 015394 46946 or admin@goodlydale.cumbria.sch.uk.
