Early Years

Our Nursery is housed in a purpose-built building which is separate to the main school building.

We currently have provision available for 2 years olds whose parents may be in receipt of certain benefits.  If you would like to find if your child is eligible please visit the Gateshead Council website by following the link below
Free early education and childcare for two year olds – Gateshead Council

We also have nursery provision for 3 and 4 year olds.  All children are entitled to 15 hours nursery education from the term after their third birthday.  We run a number of different sessions including mornings, afternoons or 2 and half days.

If you would like to register your child for a Nursery place, please call into the school office in the main school or telephone 0191 4334011.

In Nursery and Reception, we follow the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. Staff have a good knowledge of child development and use Birth to 5 Matters to support their roles, develop children’s next steps and assess the children.  We have a play-based approach to learning and follow the children’s interests.

There are 7 areas of learning: 3 prime areas and 4 specific areas. Within these areas of learning are 17 Early Learning Goals which the children work towards throughout the year.

The Prime areas are fundamental and ensure that children can develop in all other areas of learning:

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Communication and Language
• Physical Development

The Specific areas include essential skills and knowledge for children to engage successfully in the world around them:

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design

We recognise that all children are individuals and will develop at different rates and in different ways. We use observations and assessments to carefully plan the next steps in a child’s learning. We follow children’s interest to engage, enthuse and motivate them.

Each day the children have opportunities for uninterrupted child-initiated play and adult led play. The children also participate in small group time and large group time activities. The children have free flow access to the outdoor environment, and we recognise the importance of both indoor and outdoor learning.

To ensure that all children learn and make progress we ensure that:

• Children feel safe and secure within the school community and develop effective relationships with adults in the environment and key groups
• Children experience learning through a variety of ways including activities and ideas that they initiate and opportunities that practitioners led or introduce
• Children are given time to investigate and explore their ideas and interests in depth. We encourage and support them to make links within their learning
• Children are encouraged to participate in a range of creative and imaginative play activities that promote the development the use of language
• Relationships with parents are valued

Characteristic of Effective Learning

The characteristics of effective learning thread through all areas of learning and are a fundamental part of children’s development and our curriculum. The characteristics are:

Playing and Exploring (engagement)

• Finding out and exploring
• Playing with what they know
• Being willing to ‘have a go’

Active Learning (motivation)

• Being involved and concentrating
• Keeping on trying
• Enjoying achieving what they set out to do

Creating and Thinking Critically (thinking)

• Having their own ideas
• Making links
• Choosing ways to do things