The FMS Inspection Score is FindMySchool's proprietary analysis based on official Ofsted and ISI inspection reports. It converts ratings into a standardised 1–10 scale for fair comparison across all schools in England.
Disclaimer: The FMS Inspection Score is an independent analysis by FindMySchool. It is not endorsed by or affiliated with Ofsted or ISI. Always refer to the official Ofsted or ISI report for the full picture of a school’s inspection outcome.
Nursery at Meadowdale Academy
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
An ice cream parlour for role play, puppets for storytelling and instruments outdoors gave Meadowdale’s Summer 2 2025 nursery plan a practical character. The planned activities gave children things to handle, stories to retell and sounds to explore. This is the school’s own provision for two- and three-year-olds, based at Meadowdale Academy on Hazelmere Avenue in Bedlington.
Ofsted judged early years provision Good at the inspection on 11 and 12 July 2023. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision rather than a separately inspected nursery.
The Summer 2 2025 plan, Summer Scrapbook, brings the learning into focus. It planned an ice cream parlour in the role play area for conversation about holidays and summer. Wondrous Words linked vocabulary to the weekly text, with adults modelling sentences through stories and role play. The aim was purposeful speaking practice: using new language to describe experiences and join conversations.
In that plan, early years foundation stage (EYFS) learning spanned language, early literacy, maths, personal development, movement and exploration. Puppets, figures and props supported story retelling. Some older children were to begin learning letter sounds, while name-card recognition and attempts at writing their names connected early writing with something familiar.
The same summer plan included counting objects up to 10 and recognising groups up to 5 without counting each item. Shape, capacity, weight and length brought mathematical language into play. In July 2023, Ofsted found that early years children developed number understanding through songs and rhymes.
Other activities planned for Summer 2 2025 included planting flowers and sowing seeds to observe living things. Outdoor instruments were available for investigating sounds and inventing songs. Transport-themed games were to practise movement, partner work and responses to winning or losing. These activities combined physical skills with learning how to play together.
Families have taken part in the learning too. In May 2023, Robins nursery children shared stories with visitors at a stay and play event, then sang and signed You are my Sunshine. Owlets in Pre-school also welcomed visitors for storytelling. These sessions gave grown-ups a shared activity with their children.
For children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), the school uses an assess, plan, do and review process involving parents. Progress reviews take place each term, and families can access SEND plans through Edukey and comment on targets. That gives parents a practical way to contribute to support decisions. SEND coordinators aim to reply to telephone or email enquiries within two working days.
The school building is wheelchair accessible, with accessible toilets and designated parking bays. Medical support includes staff qualified in Paediatric First Aid; more complex medical needs are addressed through care plans developed with families and medical professionals. Allergies are identified when children register.
The academy’s meal choices include macaroni cheese and roast chicken, with fruit, vegetables, sandwiches and salad available daily. This describes the school meal offer.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate school-place application: Northumberland residents apply through the county council’s portal by 15 January, while families living elsewhere use their own county’s portal.
The Summer 2 2025 plan also addressed preparation for the change. Changing me included discussion of feelings about starting school, including worries and things children anticipated enjoying. This work addressed the emotional transition; it did not determine admission.
Two nursery patterns start at 8:45am. The shorter day finishes at 11:45am and provides 15 hours per week. The longer day ends at 2:45pm, providing 30 hours per week if a valid 30 hour childcare code is supplied. The earlier finish matters when planning collection around work or siblings.
Nursery applications go directly to the school office, which also arranges visits. Call 01670 823170 to book a tour or discuss an application. Early years children must be collected by an adult over 16, so families need to plan who will collect them.
Meadowdale has nursery provision for two- and three-year-old children.
Sessions run from 8:45am to 11:45am, providing 15 hours per week, or from 8:45am to 2:45pm, providing 30 hours per week if a valid 30 hour childcare code is supplied.
No. A separate application is required. Northumberland residents apply through the county council’s portal by 15 January; families outside Northumberland apply through their own county’s portal.
Parents take part in planning and termly progress reviews. SEND plans are accessible through Edukey, where parents can comment on plans or targets.
Contact the school office on 01670 823170. The school handles nursery applications directly and can arrange a tour.
