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 St Andrew's 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Morning attendance or an all-day place: that is the practical choice at St Andrew's Academy's nursery in Bishop Auckland. The provision belongs to the primary school on St Andrew’s Road, within WISE Academies. For families weighing a shorter session against a longer day, these are two distinct attendance patterns.
St Andrew's aims for a school community where children feel cared for, equal and secure. That is an ambition rather than a nursery quality judgement, but it gives parents a useful sense of the school's intended character.
Both nursery patterns begin at 8.45am, with the all-day option finishing at 3.15pm. The shared start means that choosing the longer pattern changes the collection time rather than the beginning of the day.
Across the school, behaviour expectations centre on children's rights to safety, respect and learning. Staff praise positive conduct and give children opportunities to talk about appropriate behaviour. For a nursery family, those expectations provide a useful starting point for understanding how adults approach relationships and behaviour within the wider setting.
Toilet training is a practical part of preparing to start. Parents are asked to work towards it before nursery wherever possible. Children who are still learning can receive advice from nursery staff during welcome visits, so the expectation comes with a route to support rather than simply a demand for independence.
Beyond nursery care, the school's family support covers bedtime and morning routines, emotional wellbeing, bereavement and managing SEND-related behaviour at home. Families can approach the office, which arranges contact with an appropriate member of staff. This makes the office a starting point for concerns that extend beyond the classroom.
SEND support has a coordinator and a local governor with responsibility for this area. For a complaint about a child's SEND provision, speak to the SEND coordinator first. The school also points families towards the Toby Henderson Trust, whose support includes sensory workshops, guidance on visual aids and family groups. A diagnosis is not required to attend those courses. BBC Tiny Happy People is another named resource, offering ideas for supporting children's communication at home.
Safeguarding arrangements include yearly staff training and checks covering identity, references, employment history and DBS status. Visitors sign in through the office and wear identification. These are concrete school-wide procedures relevant to families using the nursery, rather than an inspection assessment of their effectiveness.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal local-authority admissions process and meet its deadline.
At St Andrew's, Reception applications are handled by the local authority's admissions team in County Durham. Treat nursery attendance and the later school application as separate decisions: accepting a nursery place does not remove the need to apply again.
The all-day nursery pattern runs from 8.45am to 3.15pm; morning attendance also starts at 8.45am. Keep that distinction in mind when planning collection and work commitments.
For enquiries, telephone the school on 01388605385. Visits are welcomed at a convenient time, giving prospective families an opportunity to meet the setting before deciding whether its nursery attendance pattern suits them.
Morning and all-day attendance are offered. Both start at 8.45am, and the all-day pattern ends at 3.15pm.
No. Families need to apply separately for Reception through the local authority's admissions process.
Parents are asked to work towards toilet training before starting wherever possible. Nursery staff can give further advice during welcome visits.
Contact the school office, which can arrange contact with an appropriate member of staff. Support covers routines, emotional wellbeing, bereavement and SEND-related behaviour at home.
Yes. The school welcomes visits at a convenient time. Telephone 01388605385 to enquire.
