Falla Park Community Primary School Nursery Review

A separate, purpose-built nursery building gives Falla Park’s youngest children a space of their own. Rainbows is the school’s nursery provision in Felling, with places for eligible two-year-olds alongside provision for children aged three and four. Its character comes from play shaped by children’s interests, with opportunities to move between indoor learning and the outdoors.

This is a school nursery with its own daily rhythm. Families can choose morning or afternoon attendance, while the older nursery group also has patterns combining longer days with a half-day. That gives parents different ways to fit term-time early education into family life.

Children have time to pursue their own play, join activities guided by adults and take part in groups of different sizes. Staff use observations to plan what each child might learn next, supported by Birth to 5 Matters. The approach allows a child’s interests to influence activities rather than making every child follow an identical path.

The Early Years Foundation Stage brings together physical development, relationships and emotions, and communication, alongside early mathematics, literacy, creativity and understanding the world. In parent terms, learning includes how children talk, move, play with others and investigate, as well as their first encounters with numbers and writing. Access between the indoor space and outdoor environment lets exploration continue beyond the classroom.

Foundations for Phonics gives nursery children stories, poems, action rhymes and listening activities, including oral blending. These are practical foundations for learning to read: children listen closely to sounds and language before tackling more formal reading skills. Barefoot Computing adds activities away from screens that introduce early coding concepts.

The Forest School area is used in early-years learning about the natural world. Stories, photographs and maps also help children explore differences between countries. In May 2025, Ofsted described early-years children using new vocabulary independently, enjoying songs and discussing their writing. The youngest children’s routine paired milk with a story, making listening part of a familiar care moment.

Relationships and emotional development have a place in the day. Adults support early-years children to recognise feelings, manage emotions and interact with others; everyday routines and ongoing play opportunities contribute to that work. This connects social learning to ordinary moments rather than leaving it solely to a separate activity.

For children with additional needs, the school’s SEND provision includes individual or small-group support alongside classroom teaching. Parents can arrange a discussion about their child’s needs. Physical access measures across the school include accessible toilets, ramps and an accessible dining area, making access a practical part of planning support.

Before admission, families provide information about allergies, dietary preferences, health requirements and emergency contacts. Keeping those details current helps staff respond to a child’s care needs. School newsletters provide dates and news for families, with further enquiries directed to the school.

A separate application matters. Attending Falla Park’s nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply again through the normal school admissions process and meet its deadline. The school directs parents to Gateshead Council for that process, so nursery registration should be treated as a separate decision from the later school application.

Morning sessions run from 8.45am to 11.45am, with afternoons from 12.30pm to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday. For the three-year-old provision, another pattern combines Monday and Tuesday, 8.45am to 2.45pm, with Wednesday morning. The alternative starts with Wednesday afternoon and continues with Thursday and Friday, 8.45am to 2.45pm. Plan collection around the chosen pattern: the longer sessions end earlier than the afternoon sessions.

Children can access the universal 15-hour entitlement during term time from the term after their third birthday; 30 hours are offered to parents with an eligibility code. Eligible two-year-olds can access 15 term-time hours, with eligibility evidence required before an offer. To join the nursery admission list, call into the main school office; nursery enquiries can also be made on 0191 4334011.