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Nursery at Brandling Primary School
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Weekly yoga and an on-site Forest School give Brandling’s nursery a distinctive mix of movement and outdoor learning. This is the nursery within Brandling Primary School on Mulberry Street in Felling, Gateshead, with nursery teachers forming part of the school’s EYFS team. Children can join after turning three, with half-term entry points dependent on spaces.
Ofsted judged early years provision Good at the inspection on 26 and 27 June 2024. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery.
The Early Years Statutory Framework guides learning here. In practical terms, the nursery’s activities bring together stories, early writing, numbers, creative work and exploration. Examples from the 2025-2026 nursery gallery include Goldilocks and the 3 Bears, dressing up, reading and firework mark making. These give parents a concrete picture of learning through familiar stories and hands-on activity, rather than a miniature version of lessons for older pupils.
Outdoor learning has a regular place in the week. Early years children use the on-site Forest School weekly, while nursery yoga sessions are led each week by staff or visitors. Forest School activities in the 2024-2025 gallery include a leaf hunt and bird feeders. The outdoor space therefore serves learning as well as play.
Trips connect topics with real experiences. In April 2025, nursery children visited Bill Quay Farm during their farm topic, fed animals and followed a Gruffalo trail before playing in the park. At the June 2024 inspection, early years beach visits helped children compare the seaside with their own locality. Both examples show how learning extends beyond the classroom.
Creative and sensory activities add further variety. The 2024-2025 gallery includes watercolours, Play-Doh and jelly activities focused on fine motor skills. Cheese wraps also feature among the nursery activities, bringing food into practical learning.
Settling starts gradually. Summer meetings prepare parents for nursery entry; in autumn, children have an introductory visit before beginning with shorter sessions. Attendance then increases over the following weeks. This gives families a staged start rather than an immediate move to the full booked pattern.
For children needing additional help, the school uses Assess, Plan, Do Review: staff consider needs, organise support and revisit how it is working. Families and other professionals contribute to that process, so support can change as a child develops.
In June 2024, provision was adapted appropriately for children with SEND, explicitly including those in early years. Children also learned to handle their feelings from the early years onwards. These findings matter for parents whose priorities include participation in learning and emotional support.
Attending Brandling’s nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Nursery and Reception admissions are separate: families must apply again through the normal local authority process and meet the relevant deadline. Brandling allocates places under Gateshead’s admissions policy, so choosing the nursery should be a decision about the nursery experience itself.
Summer parental meetings form part of induction for children starting Reception. This preparation is separate from the allocation of places.
Four attendance patterns give families a choice between daily shorter sessions and grouped days. Morning sessions run Monday to Friday, 8:45am to 11:45am; afternoons run on the same days, 12:30pm to 3:30pm. One two-and-a-half-day pattern combines Monday and Tuesday all day with Wednesday morning. The other starts Wednesday afternoon and continues all day on Thursday and Friday.
Eligible families can apply for an additional 15 funded hours, taking provision up to 30 hours. Parents who do not qualify for those extra funded hours can pay for additional sessions. Contact the school office for current charges.
Nursery applications use a form returned to the school office. For enquiries, call 0191 4334079 or email brandling@gateshead.gov.uk.
Morning sessions are 8:45am to 11:45am and afternoon sessions are 12:30pm to 3:30pm, Monday to Friday. Two grouped patterns each cover two and a half days.
Parents attend a summer meeting. Autumn starters have an introductory visit, followed by shorter sessions that increase over the following weeks.
No. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal local authority process by the relevant deadline.
Early years children access the on-site Forest School weekly. Nursery activities have included a leaf hunt and bird feeders.
Complete the nursery application form and return it to the school office. Enquiries can be made on 0191 4334079 or at brandling@gateshead.gov.uk.
