West Lane Primary School Nursery Review

Environmental sounds, nursery rhymes and an outdoor classroom give West Lane’s nursery its character: early learning combines play with activities led by adults. Children can join from the term after their third birthday, subject to space. This is the school’s own nursery provision in Winlaton, with funded places covering 15 or 30 hours and the option of paying for extra half-day sessions.

The physical setting includes a playground for the Foundation Stage and an outdoor classroom shared by Nursery and Reception. Those spaces give the youngest children somewhere of their own within the wider school site.

Play and adult-led learning both shape the day. Staff plan from what children can already do, so activities respond to their starting points. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together learning to communicate, move and manage feelings with early mathematics, literacy, creativity and exploring the world. For parents, that means learning extends beyond letters and numbers.

Little Wandle supplies the phonics approach. Nursery children use Foundations for Phonics, listening to sounds around them and learning nursery rhymes. The emphasis is on hearing and recognising sounds, giving children a starting point for later reading and writing.

At the November 2022 inspection, Ofsted identified high-quality early-years teaching and support, with speaking, reading and number learning prominent in the curriculum. One example was the number thief activity: children worked out which number was missing, named it and restored its place in the sequence. It makes number order a practical problem to solve.

Outdoor learning has a concrete base in the early-years outdoor classroom and Foundation Stage playground. These are useful features for families seeking a nursery day with space beyond the classroom.

Lunch brings a choice: families can send a packed lunch or select an optional, charged hot meal. This lets parents choose the arrangement that suits their child. The nursery has no standard additional fees; extra sessions and the optional meal are separate choices.

Support also extends to families. The school’s Family Support Worker works across the key stages, helping with children’s physical and mental wellbeing and offering parents advice and someone to talk to. Contact is possible through the office or by arranging a meeting or call.

For children with additional needs, the school plans provision to support access to teaching. Parents can contact the SEND coordinator through the office, providing a direct route for discussing their child’s needs.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply separately through the normal Gateshead Council admissions process, using its online application service. Treat that application as a distinct step from arranging nursery hours.

Preparation for the move includes a summer-term meeting for parents before the September start. Families meet staff and receive an Induction Pack covering school visits, dates and uniform. The shared early-years outdoor classroom also provides a physical connection between Nursery and Reception; that connection is separate from the allocation of places.

The additional half-day sessions run from 8:45am to 11:45am or from 12:15pm to 3:15pm. Eligible parents can use the 30-hour funded offer, while privately paid nursery hours are also an option. Contact the school for current charges.

To arrange a nursery visit, apply or discuss hours and availability, call the office on 0191 4142557. Parking outside school is limited. West End Social Club permits families to use its car park at the beginning and end of the school day, with a walk up West Lane for collection or drop-off.