Cragside CofE Controlled Primary School Nursery

At the June 2022 inspection, play and structured learning shared the nursery day at Cragside. In June 2022, nursery children were happy and self-assured, with early learning organised around manageable steps in phonics and number knowledge. That gives parents a picture of both the children's experience and the learning behind it.

This is the school's own nursery in Cramlington, on Westloch Road, with capacity for 48 places. Children can join from the first Monday after turning three. Entry therefore follows individual birthdays rather than being restricted to a single September intake, allowing families to consider a start during the school year.

At the June 2022 inspection, children learnt through play alongside more structured activities. The early years curriculum broke phonics and number learning into small stages. For parents, this showed how play sat alongside planned learning, with these early skills developed in manageable steps.

Morning and afternoon sessions form the attendance options, and children can also stay all day. Lunch becomes part of the arrangements for those attending across both sessions. Families can choose between sending a packed lunch and buying a school meal, so the attendance pattern and lunch choice need to be considered together.

For a child staying all day, a packed lunch allows the family to provide their food; a purchased school meal is the alternative. This is a practical choice to make alongside the nursery sessions, rather than treating lunch as automatically included.

Parents with concerns about special educational needs or disabilities can arrange a discussion with their child's class teacher or the school's SEND coordinator. That gives families a direct route to discuss their child's needs. The Northumberland Local Offer also provides information for families about education, health and social care support, alongside transport and activities.

Reception requires another application. Attending Cragside's nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply separately through the council serving their home address: Northumberland County Council for Northumberland residents, or North Tyneside Council for those living in North Tyneside.

The application takes place in the autumn term before the child is due to start Reception. Keep this separate from the nursery paperwork: a nursery application goes through the school office, whereas the Reception application follows the council route. Accepting a nursery place should therefore be a decision about the nursery experience itself.

The funded offer is 15 hours for nursery children, with 30 hours available where the child is eligible. Families seeking the longer entitlement need to register online, pass their eligibility code to the school before their child starts and renew eligibility every three months. The office needs the 11-digit code. Government reminders arrive by text or email before reconfirmation is due.

Where a family does not qualify for a 30-hour code, additional paid sessions may be possible. Each extra session covers either a morning or an afternoon, with payment through Schoolsbuddy. Ask the school for current charges for these sessions and purchased meals.

Nursery application forms come from the school office, which can also help with an application. For nursery enquiries, email admin@cragside.northumberland.sch.uk or telephone 01670 714200.