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Nursery at Lumley Infant and Nursery 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
A purpose-built nursery, its own Forest School and PE in the main school hall give Lumley’s youngest children a distinct base within a bigger school community. The unit stands in the grounds of Lumley Infant and Nursery School in Great Lumley. Children can join from their second birthday, with term-time places for eligible two-, three- and four-year-olds.
Participation in school celebrations brings nursery children into school life beyond their own classroom. Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Outstanding at its inspection on 8 and 9 May 2024. That judgement covers early years within the school inspection.
Conversation runs through the learning day. Adults talk about children’s interests and activities, repeat their words with extra vocabulary, and make time for stories and discussion. This gives children practical ways to extend what they can say. Dedicated story time sits alongside role play, poetry and non-fiction.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines learning to communicate, move and manage feelings with early literacy, maths, creativity and exploration of the world. Nursery maths has included making potato pie, using the activity to practise counting, recognise patterns and learn mathematical language. In May 2024, early years children also explored farm-animal life cycles and visited Wharton Park to investigate the outdoors.
Dough Disco and Squiggle While You Wiggle help children build the hand strength and grip needed for writing. Mark-making and learning to write their name begin in nursery; Read Write Inc. Phonics is introduced when children are developmentally ready. The May 2024 inspection identified inconsistent delivery of the phonics programme across some teaching groups, an improvement point relevant to the reading approach that begins in early years.
Creative work has a regular place in the timetable, with weekly early art, design technology and music sessions. Durham Music Service contributes sessions each half term. Play dough, construction, junk modelling and small-world areas let children revisit skills through play. Outdoors, classroom-linked space and the onsite Forest School extend learning beyond the nursery room.
Teachers lead nursery learning. For children with SEND, induction can be adjusted through extra visits, meetings with their new teachers and photograph-based transition books. Planning begins with parents or carers and the child’s previous setting, giving staff a way to prepare around individual needs.
The Infant and Nursery site’s Sensory Hub contains calming sensory equipment and areas for focused tasks. School adaptations can also include visual timetables, adult support and prompts that break tasks into manageable steps. These provide practical alternatives when a child needs help organising activities or regulating their reactions.
Parents contribute to identifying needs and shaping support. SEN Support Plans are formally revisited each term with families, while discussions with the class teacher or SENCO provide an ongoing route for concerns. Before admission, families supply information about health needs, dietary preferences and allergies so staff can take these into account.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal County Durham process by the applicable deadline. School applications and admission decisions are handled by County Hall.
Familiar staff, surroundings and routines can help children prepare for the move, but familiarity is separate from admission. The school’s transition arrangements include annual transition days when children change class, staff meetings to pass on information and additional support according to a child’s needs.
The 15-hour options are mornings, Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 11:30am; afternoons, Monday to Friday from 12:15pm to 3:15pm; or two-and-a-half days, either Monday to Wednesday morning or Wednesday afternoon to Friday. The 30-hour pattern runs Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm. Attendance follows term time, excluding bank holidays and staff training days.
For children attending full days, an earlier start between 8:30am and 9am carries an extra charge. Refer to the school for current charges. Nursery applications use the NA1 form, returned to p2108.admin@durhamlearning.net or the Infant School Office. An annual January open event allows families to see the unit and meet staff; email lumley.infants@durhamlearning.net for notification of the date.
Children can join from their second birthday. The nursery offers term-time places for eligible two-, three- and four-year-olds.
The 15-hour choices are weekday mornings, weekday afternoons or two-and-a-half days. The 30-hour option runs Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm.
The nursery has outdoor learning and play space and its own Forest School. The Infant and Nursery school also has outdoor areas attached to classrooms.
Individual arrangements may include extra visits, meetings with new teachers and transition books containing photographs, planned with families and the previous setting.
No. Families must apply separately for Reception through the normal County Durham admissions process by the applicable deadline.
