Hareside Primary School Nursery

Three session choices shape nursery life at Hareside: mornings, afternoons or a full day. This is the nursery within Hareside Primary School in Cramlington, with 52 places for children starting from the term after their third birthday. Families can therefore choose between a shorter session and a day that includes lunchtime.

Early learning includes letters, sounds and number knowledge. In March 2023, Ofsted found that children began learning how letters relate to sounds in Nursery, while early years children developed secure knowledge of numbers up to 10. These are concrete foundations for learning to read and work with numbers.

Hareside follows the Early Years framework. For parents, the clearest examples here are those first steps in literacy and mathematics, alongside outdoor learning that includes safety. Within EYFS outdoor learning, children learn what to do if they become separated from their parents or a group. That connects learning beyond the classroom with a practical skill children can use.

A morning runs from 8.30am until 11.30am; the afternoon begins at noon and finishes at 3.00pm. Children attending all day stay from 8.30am to 3.00pm, with lunchtime care bridging the two sessions.

Lunch brings a choice: children can have a school dinner or bring food from home. Lunchtime care runs between 11.30am and noon, and booking and payment are handled online. For families choosing full days, the meal and the care around it need to be included in their planning.

Support for special educational needs and disabilities sits within the school's approach to adapting both the learning environment and the curriculum. This gives families a basis for discussing how their child's needs affect participation in nursery learning. Early years also has a senior leadership role shared with Year 1, placing this stage within the school's leadership structure.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Parents must make a separate application through Northumberland County Council, applying in the autumn term before their child starts Reception. Keep that application separate from arranging nursery sessions: choosing Hareside's nursery does not replace the Reception application.

Separate application. The nursery and Reception have different application routes. Families already using the nursery still need to complete the council process for the next stage.

Funding is organised around term-time attendance. Children have 15 universal funded hours each week; eligible families may receive another 15 hours through extended provision, making 30 hours. Where a family does not qualify for the additional funded hours, extra nursery sessions may be offered for a charge. Ask the school for current charges, including lunchtime care and school dinners.

For nursery enquiries, contact the office on 01670 712440 or email admin@hareside.school. Application forms can be obtained from the office or downloaded. Children are brought through the main gates to the nursery and collected from that same place, giving families one handover point for either session pattern.