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Nursery at St Cuthbert's Catholic Primary School, Windermere
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.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 mud kitchen for imaginary meals, a climbing frame for active play and a sensory tent for quieter moments give St Cuthbert’s nursery its character. This is nursery provision within St Cuthbert’s Catholic Primary School, Windermere. Its home is the Explorers area, shared with Reception and Years 1 and 2, so the youngest children learn within a mixed-age setting.
Catholic teaching forms part of nursery learning, with Vine & Branches and Magister supporting religious education. Families should weigh that daily context alongside the practical flexibility of nursery attendance.
Play is built into the Early Years Foundation Stage, or EYFS. Here, that means opportunities to practise conversation, express feelings, solve problems and cooperate through activities rather than relying only on adult-led work. The classroom includes spaces for construction, dressing up and messy creativity, alongside areas for more structured learning. Children have different ways to join in.
Outside, scooters, trikes and bikes provide opportunities for movement. The mud kitchen adds imaginative cooking and serving, while a sensory pod and a tent fitted with fibre-optic lights provide places to read or relax. These quieter spaces offer a different pace from the active outdoor area. With pans, utensils and a seating area, children can prepare pretend food and serve it to friends, turning messy play into a shared imaginative activity.
Books connect several kinds of learning. Early-years children have baked and decorated gingerbread figures after exploring The Gingerbread Man, weighing ingredients and discussing changes during cooking. Planting sunflower seeds brought growing and plant care into their activities. Nursery children also took part in Forest School in September 2025, extending learning beyond the classroom.
Reading begins early: nursery children join phonics groups when they start, using Read Write Inc. They also bring books home to enjoy with an adult, giving families a concrete way to share the learning.
Ofsted judged early years provision Requires improvement following the inspection on 21 and 22 November 2023. Curriculum sequence. At that point, essential learning within mixed-age classes needed clearer ordering, including in early years. This matters because activities need to build towards what children learn next. School-wide oversight of curriculum quality, behaviour and attendance also needed strengthening at that time.
A morning feelings check uses the Colour Monster to help children communicate how they feel. It gives staff a prompt to recognise children who may need additional support that day. Teaching roles span EYFS and Key Stage 1, linking the nursery team with the surrounding younger classes.
For parents, Class Dojo carries learning updates, with translation tools for families using English as an additional language. Half-termly curriculum summaries include ideas for supporting learning at home, and parent meetings take place twice a year.
Meals are prepared in the school kitchen, with menus changing each term. Packed lunches are an alternative, and a vegetarian option can be requested. Families must tell staff about food allergies when arranging meals; severe allergies triggered by smell or contact should be discussed before joining. In November 2023, older pupils helped early-years children at lunchtime, adding contact with the wider school to this daily routine.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet the normal deadline.
Sharing the Explorers area with Reception gives nursery children familiarity with that part of the school. Keep this everyday continuity separate from the decision about admission.
Nursery hours can be arranged around a family’s working day. Attendance examples include five mornings, five afternoons or two and a half days. This gives families several ways to organise the week rather than one fixed pattern.
The school office handles enquiries about applying for the 30-hour funded entitlement. Contact the school for current charges. To discuss nursery attendance or arrange a school tour, call 015394 48125 or email admin@st-cuthberts-windermere.cumbria.sch.uk.
No. Nursery attendance does not guarantee a place, and families must apply separately for Reception through the normal admissions process.
Hours can be arranged around a parent’s working day. Examples include five mornings, five afternoons or two and a half days.
The EYFS outdoor learning area includes a climbing frame, bikes, scooters, trikes and a mud kitchen.
Yes. Nursery children receive books to share with an adult at home and join phonics groups when they start.
Call 015394 48125 to arrange a school visit or contact admin@st-cuthberts-windermere.cumbria.sch.uk to request a tour.
