Cramlington Northburn Primary School Nursery

Adventure Awaits Forest School gives Northburn's nursery a seasonal outdoor focus: children take part during selected weeks in Summer 2. This is the school's own nursery on Horton Drive in Cramlington, with morning, afternoon and 30 hour places. Those choices give families different attendance patterns to consider.

Nursery also marks the beginning of Northburn's eight-year curriculum. The school describes its approach as knowledge-engaged, combining what children know with the skills to use it and encouraging questions and independent thinking.

Language, books and early number work are central to the early years picture. In October 2022, daily shared stories helped children explore rhyme and letter sounds, while adults gave children needing additional help extra practice in smaller groups. The emphasis was on communication as well as the beginnings of reading. For a young child, that means opportunities to listen, speak and become familiar with how words sound.

Read, Write Inc is the core early years phonics programme. In October 2022, early number activities also incorporated practice in the small hand movements needed for writing. There is a useful caution here: in October 2022, some children were still developing a steady pencil grip. Some staff also needed phonics training, and reading books did not consistently match pupils' existing sound knowledge, including for some pupils with SEND. Moving children ahead too quickly affected reading fluency and understanding.

Outdoors, nursery's Adventure Awaits Forest School sessions fall on Wednesdays during selected Summer 2 weeks. The school has an outdoor classroom intended to become a focus for forest school learning. This gives the outdoor programme a physical base, while the selected-week arrangement matters for families expecting forest school throughout the year.

Emotional understanding has a practical place in early years learning. In October 2022, children independently used a toolbox to communicate their own feelings and recognise those of friends. This helped them settle their emotions and prepare to learn; behaviour in the early years was a strength at that time.

Smaller-group language and reading work provided additional adult attention for children who needed it. Families with concerns about special educational needs or disabilities can contact the school's SENCo through the school telephone number, 01670739111. That provides a direct point of contact for discussing a child's needs.

Attending Northburn's nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through Northumberland's normal admissions route and meet the normal deadline. The online Reception admissions portal is the application route; parents can also request a paper form from the admissions team on 01670 624889. Treat this as a separate decision and application, even when your child already attends nursery.

Morning, afternoon and 30 hour places are the nursery's attendance options. Application forms and further nursery information are available through the school office. Contact the school on 01670 739111 or email admin@northburn.northumberland.sch.uk to make an enquiry.

School visits are encouraged, giving prospective families an opportunity to discuss nursery provision in person. For journeys involving the school grounds, staff car park access is restricted between 8:30am and 9:00am and between 3:00pm and 3:25pm. Build those restrictions into your travel arrangements.