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Nursery at Bullion Lane Primary School
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Independent exploration indoors and outside gives Bullion Lane’s early years provision its character. Children use both environments to develop their movement skills, alongside patient adult support and a focus on language and early mathematics. The nursery includes provision for two-year-olds and forms part of Bullion Lane Primary School in Chester-le-Street.
Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 19 and 20 March 2024. This is an early years judgement within the school inspection. The school site has internal quadrangle gardens, playing fields and external gardens, placing the nursery within a school with substantial outdoor space.
Morning and afternoon sessions provide the basic shape of the day. Learning follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), with activities planned around children’s development and interests. For younger children, the initial emphasis is on talking and understanding, physical skills, and managing feelings and relationships. These are the foundations for learning together and becoming more independent.
Literacy and mathematics sit alongside creative expression and discovering how the world works. Staff adjust activities to individual needs rather than treating the curriculum as a fixed sequence for every child. Read Write Inc begins in Nursery, introducing phonics as a route towards recognising and decoding words.
In March 2024, children’s independent use of indoor and outdoor spaces supported their physical development, while language and mathematical learning had secure foundations. Adult interaction mattered too: staff listened carefully and responded with patience. Together, these features give children opportunities to make choices while receiving help with communication and early learning.
The nursery staffing structure includes a teacher with Foundation Manager responsibilities and teaching assistants, including roles specifically allocated to two-year-olds. That identifies a team serving the youngest children as well as the wider nursery group.
For children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), the school uses a repeating process of assessment, planning, putting support into practice and reviewing progress. Individual SEN Support Plans describe needs, intended outcomes and provision. Parents contribute through discussions with the class teacher or SENCO and through plan reviews, giving families a continuing role in decisions about support.
Starting school can also be adapted to the child. Transition days are part of the school’s general provision, with additional days possible where individual needs warrant them. Before admission, families provide information about health needs, allergies and dietary requirements, helping staff understand care needs from the outset.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. The school directs parents to Durham County Council for primary admissions information; treat that application as a separate task from joining Nursery.
Preparation for a new class is a different matter from securing a place. The school’s SEND transition arrangements include summer-term classroom visits and staff discussions about children who need extra support. Sharing effective provision helps the next teacher understand the child’s needs, but does not establish an admissions advantage.
Nursery mornings run from 8.30am to 11.30am; afternoons run from noon to 3pm. These timings give families two distinct session windows to fit around their daily arrangements.
Enquiries go through the school office on 0191 388 2482 or by email to bullionlane@durhamlearning.net. Parents also complete an emergency information form with two contact numbers and should pass changes of address, telephone number or workplace to the office, so staff can reach a responsible adult when needed.
Yes. Bullion Lane has nursery provision for two-year-olds, with teaching assistant roles specifically assigned to that age group.
Morning sessions run from 8.30am to 11.30am, and afternoon sessions from noon to 3pm.
Activities follow the EYFS and respond to children’s needs and interests. Read Write Inc phonics starts in Nursery.
No. Families need a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process. The school directs parents to Durham County Council for primary admissions information.
The school uses assessment, planning, support and review, with individual SEN Support Plans and parental involvement. Transition days can be tailored when a child would benefit from additional visits.
