St Hild’s College Primary School Nursery, Durham

Sensory play for babies, story making for older children: St Hild’s early years provision spans distinct stages before school entry. Caterpillars takes children aged 9 months to 2 years, Butterflies covers ages 2 to 3, and Donaldson Nursery serves children aged 3 to 4. These groups sit within the school’s Foundation Stage Unit in Gilesgate, Durham.

St Hild’s Bright Beginnings expanded to include babies from January 2026. An Early Years Lead works alongside teaching and support staff, with teams allocated to the different groups. The school’s Church of England ethos welcomes families of every faith and those with none.

Children’s interests can change the direction of learning here. The nursery follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), covering seven learning areas through a two-year programme with six overarching themes. Activities return in different contexts, giving children another way to explore familiar ideas. A topic or author provides the starting point, but an interest need not wait for its scheduled term.

Donaldson Nursery’s autumn theme, A Tale to Tell, includes learning about themselves and animal stories. The Gruffalo and Snow White are the featured stories. Story Dough brings storytelling and creative activity together, with vocabulary and teamwork among its aims. Repeated attention to a traditional tale each half term gives children time to become familiar with its language and events.

For the youngest children, the Caterpillars Cabin provides concrete things to touch, hear and examine. Sensory trays have included mirrors, coloured sheets and materials linked to That’s not my penguin. Children have scooped coloured rice, mixed gloop and explored water with bowls and wooden spoons. These are opportunities to investigate what materials do while practising hand movements.

Outdoor examples include using a walker and trike in the garden. Caterpillars have also visited a sensory room with coloured lights and an interactive floor mat. Indoor exploration and movement outside both feature in their experiences.

Settling happens in stages. Children entering the two-year-old provision receive a home visit from the early years team and Positive Futures Worker, followed by short sessions accompanied by a parent or carer. Full sessions follow when appropriate. Three-year-olds visit with their family before starting; parents are encouraged to remain for the first session, and shorter attendance can build towards their full hours.

Before entry, families of children with SEND are asked to discuss identified needs with the Head Teacher and SENCO so support can be planned. Across the school, SEN Support Plans are reviewed at least termly with families involved. That creates a recurring opportunity to discuss what needs adjusting.

Class Dojo carries nursery updates about dates and events. For food, Chartwells prepares school meals on site each day, and there is a nursery menu. Children under 5 can receive free milk through Cool Milk registration. Caterpillars’ snack experiences have included pancakes with blueberries and raspberries.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply separately through the normal Reception admissions process and meet its deadline; Durham County Council is the route for primary admissions information.

Preparation for the move is a separate matter. Early years staff work together across the nursery groups and into Reception. Children taking up a September Reception place are invited to July’s Moving Up Day for half a session to meet staff and explore the Foundation Stage Unit. A summer meeting also helps parents prepare for the change.

Five attendance patterns give families different ways to organise the week: full days totalling 30 hours; mornings or afternoons totalling 15 hours; and two 15-hour options split across the start or end of the week. The first covers Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday morning; the second covers Wednesday afternoon, Thursday and Friday.

Funded provision is based on 38 weeks a year. Entitlements include up to 30 hours for eligible working families, with eligibility conditions applying. Additional charges may apply; contact the school for current charges.

Arrange a nursery visit or make an enquiry through the office at office@sthildsprimary.org.uk or 0191 384 7451. For journeys, Tesco permits St Hild’s families to use its car park before and after school. The bays opposite the entrance in Heron’s Court are reserved for residents, so plan collection accordingly.