Beaconhill Community Primary School Nursery

A morning or a longer day, both starting at 9am: Beaconhill’s nursery gives families two distinct session patterns within a primary school. The nursery takes children from three and sits at Langdale Drive in Cramlington. It has a nursery teacher, with teaching assistants and a classroom assistant forming the wider early years support team.

September is the standard starting point, after a child’s third birthday. A mid-year application is also possible for families new to the school if space remains and their child turned three before 1 September. That condition matters when planning a start later in the school year.

The shorter pattern runs from 9am to noon; the longer one finishes at 3pm. These are the nursery’s 15-hour and 30-hour sessions respectively, so the practical choice is between a morning and a day extending into the afternoon.

Language gives the early years curriculum a concrete focus. At the June 2022 inspection, children in the early years repeatedly listened to and joined in with rhymes, songs and stories. These activities developed vocabulary alongside speaking and listening. For a parent, that means early learning includes hearing language, trying it out and building the words needed to express ideas. Nursery provision sits within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

Settling begins before the September start. A stay-and-play session towards the end of the summer term lets children explore the classroom with their parents, meet staff and begin to recognise their new surroundings. Parents can ask questions then, with another induction meeting in September once their child has begun attending. The sequence gives families contact with the team both before and after the change.

For special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the school describes support using its staff expertise and resources, alongside work with external services. Queries can go to the SEND coordinator by telephone. This gives parents a specific contact for discussing their child’s needs.

Child protection training forms part of staff induction and is compulsory for the whole team. Safeguarding contacts can be reached by email, telephone or an office appointment, giving parents several ways to raise a concern.

A nursery place does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Northumberland’s online portal, including those whose child already attends the nursery or lives within the catchment area.

The school gives usually November before the Reception start as the time to apply. Treat this as a separate step in family planning: joining the nursery does not complete the later application.

The nursery door opens at 9am. Children attending the morning session are collected at the Reception door at noon, so families need to use different doors for the start and finish of that session.

Nursery applications use a separate form, and prospective parents can arrange a school visit through the headteacher. For enquiries, telephone 01670 714864 or email admin@beaconhill.northumberland.sch.uk.