Pittington Primary School Nursery

Beebots, cameras and construction play give Pittington’s early years provision a practical, exploratory character. Its nursery forms part of Pittington Primary School on Hallgarth Lane, with places for 26 children and provision for two-, three- and four-year-olds. This is a start within a school setting, with learning organised around young children’s opportunities to explore and make things.

Indoor and outdoor learning areas support a mixture of adult-directed activities and play that children choose themselves. Children have space to investigate, observe and build in both environments. The balance gives them opportunities to pursue an idea independently, then work with an adult on something more directed.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) connects practical experiences with learning about the world, physical development and creative expression. Here, that includes construction and experimenting with materials. Art activities encourage children to try textures, different shapes and colour, using their work to express feelings and ideas. These activities give children ways to express their own ideas and feelings.

Technology also has a place in the early years classroom. PCs are accessible during provision, while cameras and iPads let children take photographs. Remote-controlled cars and Beebots sit alongside lift-the-flap books and pulley toys, giving children different ways to investigate how things work. An ICT spotting walk helps them recognise technology elsewhere in the school.

At the July 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that collaboration between subject leaders and early years staff gave children a secure foundation for subsequent learning. That connects the practical activities to a planned educational purpose.

Adults respond to children’s learning needs as activities unfold: in July 2022, their checks on understanding allowed them to provide additional help where needed. For families, this means support was responsive to what a child understood, rather than simply moving everyone through an activity together.

The school’s SENDCo can be reached through the office by telephone or email. Its SEN Information Report belongs to Durham County Council’s Local Offer and covers identification, curriculum adaptations, emotional support and consultation with families. This gives parents a route into discussing learning needs and the school’s support arrangements.

Before a child joins, families provide health information, dietary preferences, allergies and emergency contacts. Parents must keep these details updated, and written consent is requested for emergency medical advice or treatment. Food-related needs therefore belong in the initial information shared with staff.

The nursery has its own behaviour procedure within the school policy. After an instruction to stop and a look from an adult, a child has a one-minute timeout away from the group, measured with a sand timer, before returning to the activity. This is a concrete routine for parents to understand alongside the policy’s emphasis on praise and support.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Durham County Council’s school admissions route and meet the deadline for their child’s entry year.

The council’s 2022/2023 admission guide explicitly excluded attendance at an attached nursery as a priority criterion when applications exceeded places. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as separate decisions. Use the council’s admissions service to confirm the arrangements and application deadline for the relevant intake.

Children can join the nursery waiting list after their first birthday through the school’s nursery registration link. Prospective families can arrange a school visit by appointment with the headteacher, giving them a direct way to explore whether the provision suits their child.

The nursery admissions information describes funded provision for eligible working parents: 15 hours for two-year-olds and 30 hours for three- and four-year-olds. Eligibility conditions matter, so those descriptions should not be read as an entitlement for every family. Paid places are also offered; contact the office for current session charges.

For nursery enquiries, telephone 0191 3720314 or email pittington@durhamlearning.net. The school office can also provide paper copies of website information, making its policies accessible to families who prefer to read them offline.