Term time / All Year
All Year
St. Aidan's Day Nursery
Ofsted: Outstanding
(Jan 2024)
Number of places
60 places
Age range
0–5 yrs
Last inspected
Jan 2024
Local authority
Cumberland
About this day nursery
St. Aidan's Day Nursery, located in Carlisle, offers an outstanding early years provision for children aged 0-7 years. Open all year round, except for two weeks at Christmas, the nursery provides sessions from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.
The setting was registered in 2016 and is one of two privately owned nurseries in Carlisle. The dedicated team, comprising 34 staff members, with 28 holding Level 3 qualifications, three at Level 5, and three at Level 6, ensures a calm and inclusive environment where every child receives exemplary care and attention.
The highly personalised approach to children's transition helps them to quickly build loving bonds with staff, who know them exceptionally well and prioritise their emotional well-being. Leaders and staff have designed a bespoke curriculum, informed by their in-depth knowledge of each child's individual next steps.
This tailored approach, combined with consistent interactions from staff, extends children's learning both indoors and outdoors. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make significant and rapid progress in their development, with the provision for children with SEND being outstanding.
Leaders are tenacious in accessing support for these children, and staff receive targeted training and advice to meet individual needs. Reading is at the heart of this nursery, with staff igniting a joy of stories in children, who confidently make connections with other books and proudly identify letters.
The nursery also skillfully weaves equality and diversity through all areas, ensuring children learn to celebrate similarities and differences.
What it's like
The care and attention given to every child at this calm and inclusive nursery is exemplary. The highly personalised approach to transition helps children to quickly build loving bonds with the staff, who know them exceptionally well. Staff prioritise children's emotional well-being and teach them to understand the feelings of others.
Outstanding Ofsted rating0-7 years age rangeAll-year provisionOutstanding SEND provisionReading at the heartAmbitious leadership
Key facts
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for St. Aidan's Day Nursery
Last inspected 18 January 2024 · Liz Dayton
Overall effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding
What it's like to attend
The care and attention given to every child at this calm and inclusive nursery is exemplary. The highly personalised approach to transition helps children to quickly build loving bonds with the staff, who know them exceptionally well. Staff prioritise children's emotional well-being and teach them to understand the feelings of others.
Inspector highlights
- Leaders are ambitious for all children and are committed to ensuring that every child is well prepared for the next stage of their education.
- The provision for children with SEND is outstanding. Leaders are tenacious in accessing support for these children.
- Staff consistently use their interactions with children to promote their communication and language development. They expertly weave new vocabulary into children's play.
- Reading is placed at the heart of this nursery. Children gasp in amazement as staff read to children in a way that ignites their joy of stories.
- Leaders have a comprehensive overview of the quality of the provision. They are highly reflective and relentless in their drive for continuous improvement.
Inspection #10301494 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make significant and rapid progress in their development. The provision for children with SEND is outstanding. Leaders are tenacious in accessing support for these children. Staff receive targeted training, advice and support from a range of professionals. They have the knowledge and expertise to ensure that all children's individual needs are met.
Outdoor space
The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning.
Inspection history
- January 2024Outstanding
- January 2018Outstanding
Frequently asked about St. Aidan's Day Nursery
About the setting
St. Aidan's Day Nursery registered in 2016. The nursery is in Harraby and is one of two privately owned nurseries in Carlisle. The nursery employs 34 members of staff. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday, all year round except for 2 weeks at Christmas. Sessions are from 8am to 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.
- URN
- EY498092
- Registered person
- St Aidan's Day Nursery Trustees
- Day care type
- Full day care
- Register
- Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register
- Establishment type
- Childcare on non-domestic premises
- Previous rating
- Outstanding
Are you the owner of this nursery? Claim this listing to manage photos, hours and contact details.
Claim listingShare this nursery
Send to a partner, friend or family member.
This listing has been compiled from official Ofsted records, the nursery's own website, details provided directly by the nursery where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more