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Nursery at New Brancepeth Primary Academy
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Songs, stories and listening activities give New Brancepeth’s nursery its clearest character: this is an early start built around language. Bumblebee is the provision for two-year-olds, while Caterpillar is the Nursery class. Both belong to the school’s Foundation Stage, so the youngest children have named groups within the wider primary setting.
Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 1 and 2 October 2024. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.
Language has practical expression here. In October 2024, nursery children were learning rhymes and songs, alongside activities that helped them recognise differences between sounds. These give children practice in listening closely before they begin more formal reading.
Books are a physical feature throughout the early years spaces. Children hear unfamiliar vocabulary in stories, then use it in stories of their own. That connects listening with expression: a story becomes something children can help create. Early years children also developed a firm grasp of number in October 2024, giving mathematical learning a clear place alongside language.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the curriculum framework here. Its concrete expression includes this work on number, listening and storytelling. Page Turners adds a link with home: the EYFS selections are for adults and children to enjoy together, rather than books children are expected to read independently. Families can borrow from the school’s collection and talk about the stories together.
Emotional support uses an adapted Zones of Regulation approach, with characters from Inside Out chosen for children aged 2 to 11. Children put a picture or their name against a feelings image, giving staff a visible prompt when support may be needed. Breathing deeply, blowing bubbles and movement breaks are among the strategies taught. These are concrete ways to respond to feelings.
Fruit is available for EYFS children, and nursery children have access to milk. Before a child starts, families provide details of allergies, dietary needs and health requirements, as well as emergency contacts. Keeping those details current helps staff respond to the individual child’s care needs.
The staffing structure includes an EYFS lead and a SENDCo. The school aims to support children with additional needs alongside their peers, and families can arrange a discussion about SEND requirements. All staff have safeguarding responsibilities and receive child protection training.
Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. Treat the nursery choice and the later school application as separate decisions: familiarity with the school should not be taken as an offer of a place.
Nursery children can use wider childcare running daily from 7:30am to 5:00pm. This extends the care available around the nursery day and may help families fitting childcare around work.
Uniform follows parental wishes for nursery children, with black jogging bottoms encouraged for easier dressing. Branded clothing is optional, and the school runs a summer uniform swap shop. Label clothing to help prevent lost items causing upset.
For enquiries, contact the school office on 0191 373 0736 or email contact@newbrancepethprimary.org.uk. The nursery is at Rock Terrace, New Brancepeth, Durham, DH7 7EU.
No. Reception requires a separate application through the normal admissions process, by its deadline.
Yes. Bumblebee is the two-year-old provision, alongside the Caterpillar Nursery class.
Nursery children learn songs and rhymes and practise telling sounds apart. Stories introduce vocabulary that children then use in their own storytelling.
Yes. Wider childcare includes nursery children and runs daily from 7:30am to 5:00pm.
No. Branded uniform is optional. Nursery uniform follows parental wishes, and black jogging bottoms are encouraged.
