Opening hours
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 08:00 - 18:00
Shining Stars Nursery (Appleby)
Ofsted: Expected standard·
5.0(1 Google review)
·The Gate, Bongate, Appleby, CA16 6LH · Westmorland and Furness
Number of places
60 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Feb 2026
Local authority
Westmorland and Furness
About this day nursery
Shining Stars Nursery (Appleby) Ltd, registered with Ofsted in 2014, provides childcare for children aged 0-4 years. The day nursery operates from Monday to Friday, between 8:00 and 18:00, and is open all year round.
The setting maintains a strong commitment to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum, ensuring that learning is well-planned and purposeful for all children. The day nursery fosters an inclusive environment where staff understand and respond to children's individual needs, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
Leaders have implemented strategies like a sensory space to help children regulate emotions and staff use simple signs to support communication. Outdoor play is a key part of the children's day, where they can develop physical skills like balance and coordination.
The nursery also focuses on children's overall wellbeing, including healthy eating and dental hygiene, and plans engaging outings to support children's understanding of health. The latest Ofsted inspection on 3rd February 2026, recognised the nursery as 'Good', highlighting that children thrive and are well-prepared for their next stages of learning.
What it's like
Children thrive and prepare for life in the welcoming nursery. Learning is well planned and purposeful, engaging children's attention and sparking new interests. Staff build on what children know and can do and respond well to changes in their lives. They plan outings to opticians and dentists to support all children to learn more about their health. Staff link children's learning around topics such as these to embed their understanding. Children are confident and independent learners, who develop the skills and knowledge they need.
Welcoming environmentPurposeful learningInclusive culturePhysical developmentEmotional security
Key facts
Term time / All Year
All_year
Registered with Ofsted
2014
Ofsted Inspection — new report card
Expected standard
Last inspected Feb 2026
Grade summary
Exceptional
—
Strong standard
—
Expected standard
Needs attention
—
Urgent improvement
—
Each dot represents one of the six inspection categories. Headline is the average of the six grades, rounded up.
Category grades
AchievementExpected standard
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routinesExpected standard
Children's welfare and wellbeingExpected standard
Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
InclusionExpected standard
Leadership and governanceExpected standard
Age range
0 to 4
Registers
Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted report for Shining Stars Nursery (Appleby)
Last inspected 3 February 2026
What it's like to attend
Children thrive and prepare for life in the welcoming nursery. Learning is well planned and purposeful, engaging children's attention and sparking new interests. Staff build on what children know and can do and respond well to changes in their lives. They plan outings to opticians and dentists to support all children to learn more about their health. Staff link children's learning around topics such as these to embed their understanding. Children are confident and independent learners, who develop the skills and knowledge they need.
Inspector highlights
- Children make secure progress across the curriculum.
- Babies and young children develop emotional security, which helps them to build confidence as they move on through nursery.
- Staff model the positive behaviours they expect from children.
- Children help to tidy up and show respect for the nursery environment.
- Staff use their understanding from training to manage children's welfare and wellbeing.
- Children eat nutritious food, which supports their growing bodies.
Areas to develop
- 1Leaders should consider ways to bridge gaps in children's learning and development in an even more focused and timely manner.
- 2Leaders should enhance professional relationships with parents and carers to help them understand ways to promote children's health and wellbeing even further.
Inspection #10129226 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
Leaders have established a typically inclusive culture where staff understand children's unique nature and individual needs. Staff get to know children and identify their emerging needs, assessing where they may require additional support. Staff use the knowledge gained from training to support children's learning and help to reduce communication barriers, using simple signs to promote children's communication needs, for instance. Leaders understand how to use and monitor the impact of any additional funding to support children to thrive, for instance, by installing a sensory space to help some children to regulate their emotions. Leaders work with other professionals, seeking support to aid children's progress. The interventions that staff provide while waiting for external support are generally helpful, but are sometimes generic.
Outdoor space
Children learn new physical skills and practise their balance and coordination during outdoor play. Children work together well, negotiating obstacles as they balance and jump in the outdoor area.
Google Reviews of Shining Stars Nursery (Appleby)
5.0
(1 Google review)
Aaliah Summer
a month ago
Would recommend this nursery to any parent, my daughter loved attending here and was very sad to see her leave. Amazing staff and amazing atmosphere. 10/10
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for Shining Stars Nursery (Appleby). See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Date: November 2015
- February 2026Expected standard
- January 2020Outstanding
- November 2015Outstanding
Frequently asked about Shining Stars Nursery (Appleby)
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