At Thwaites School, our Early Years Foundation Stage includes Nursery and Reception. We provide a welcoming, nurturing and stimulating environment in which children can develop confidence, independence, curiosity and a love of learning.

Joining Our Nursery

Children may join our Nursery as soon as they turn three. Sessions attended before funded early-education hours begin are paid for by parents and carers.

Funded hours begin from the start of the term following the child’s third birthday. We offer flexibility in the use of funded hours, together with additional paid sessions, to help families arrange provision that meets their needs.

Nursery admissions are managed directly by the school. Please contact the school office to discuss available sessions, funded-hour arrangements and current charges.

Learning in the Early Years

Our indoor and outdoor Early Years environments provide engaging opportunities for children to learn through purposeful play, exploration, discussion and carefully planned adult-led activities.

Children have regular opportunities to learn outdoors, including in our covered outdoor classroom. Our indoor provision is organised to encourage children to explore their interests, make choices and develop their individual personalities with support from knowledgeable adults.

Learning is planned across the seven areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage:

• communication and language;
• personal, social and emotional development;
• physical development;
• literacy;
• mathematics;
• understanding the world; and
• expressive arts and design.

Our curriculum provides a carefully planned balance of continuous provision, enhanced provision and direct teaching. Staff observe children’s learning and development and use what they know about each child to plan appropriate support and further opportunities.

Children begin phonics in Nursery using Twinkl Phonics. This continues into Reception, helping to provide a consistent and carefully sequenced approach to early reading.

We aim to provide a positive and natural transition from Nursery into Reception and then into Key Stage 1, ensuring that children develop the knowledge, skills and confidence they need for the next stage of their education.

Visiting Thwaites School

We warmly invite prospective families to visit, meet our staff and children and see our Early Years provision in action.

To arrange a visit or ask about a Nursery place, please contact Mrs S. Bawden, our school administrator:

Telephone: 01229 772554
Email: admin@thwaites.cumbria.sch.uk

Applications for Reception and other statutory school-age places are managed through Cumberland Council:

Cumberland Council school admissions