Prior Park Primary School Nursery Review

Boogie Beats, counting rhymes and books to borrow give Prior Park’s nursery a character built around movement, language and shared stories. This is the school’s own nursery in Tweedmouth, Berwick-upon-Tweed. In June 2023, children could start from the week after their third birthday; confirm current starting arrangements with the school. It sits within the school’s early years provision.

At the June 2023 Ofsted inspection, early years provision was graded Good. Scientific exploration and learning about nature were strengths across early years. For parents, that gives the practical investigations here a clear educational purpose.

Both nursery patterns begin at 8.50am: the morning finishes at 11.50am, while the 30-hour pattern continues until 2.50pm. The curriculum follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Here, learning includes stories, number games, movement and opportunities to talk through ideas.

Read Write Inc. introduces early reading and spelling in nursery. Books can also go home through the class library each day, giving families something to share together. Thursday brings Boogie Beats music and movement; familiar rhymes include Five Currant Buns and Humpty Dumpty. Weekly star challenges span different learning areas, with a sticker and certificate for completion. These give children specific tasks to work towards.

Activities from 2023–2024 show how that approach has worked in practice. Nursery children played Fred talk games, drew favourite activities and made fruit salad for snack. Across early years, children planted carrots and peas in the garden and compared pond water with water from a water butt. Indoors, a water tray allowed children to investigate containers and capacity. Practical materials gave abstract ideas something children could handle and discuss.

In June 2023, adults in early years demonstrated sentence patterns and introduced more demanding vocabulary. That supported the language children needed to explain their discoveries.

The early years team includes teaching assistants and a lunchtime supervisor who also works as a classroom assistant. Families can view messages and upload work using 360, providing a connection between home and learning.

Emotional learning has practical examples too. During autumn 2023, early years children discussed anger and made sensory bottles to help them settle their feelings. They also used the zones of regulation to express emotions. The school uses the Thrive Approach, with individual action plans shared with parents and reviewed regularly. Parents are consulted when regular support outside class is proposed.

Food has been part of learning as well as snack time. In September 2023, nursery children prepared fruit salad; in January 2024, they baked cakes for snack. These examples bring preparation and tasting into the children’s activities.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route by the normal deadline. Treat that application as a distinct step when planning your child’s next year, even if they already know the school through nursery.

The nursery operates Monday to Friday. Children using the 15-hour provision attend mornings; those using the 30-hour provision attend from 8.50am to 2.50pm. Additional afternoon sessions are offered for children on the 15-hour pattern, with a charge. Contact the school for current charges.

Daily essentials are a coat, water bottle and book folder, with clothing and belongings labelled. Monday is the stated early years PE day for the term, when children should wear PE kit; confirm the timetable before starting. These are useful routines to establish before starting.

For nursery enquiries, contact the school office at admin@pppschool.uk or 01289306667. A nursery application form is available through Parent Information.