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Nursery at Harlow Green Community 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Number rhymes during play, sound games and a garden for family picnics give Harlow Green’s nursery its character. This is the school’s own nursery class in Gateshead, for children aged three and four, with morning or afternoon attendance forming the core offer. A repeated pattern across the week gives children time to become familiar with their classmates and routines.
At the Ofsted inspection on 14 and 15 February 2023, early years provision was graded Good. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision. Children settled quickly, and staff understood the needs of children joining nursery through close work with parents.
Sessions start with children choosing their indoor activities, followed by a group welcome and the day’s theme. Plan-Do-Review comes next, before small-group work and a snack. Adult-led activities follow, with tidying and then singing, dough gym or a story towards home time. The sequence combines opportunities to make choices with time spent learning alongside an adult.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) approach brings together physical development, communication and personal development with early mathematics, literacy, creative work and understanding the world. Children learn through exploration and play, indoors and outside. Topics draw on their interests, while Birth to Five Matters helps staff assess development and plan the next steps. Children therefore contribute to what they explore, rather than simply following an adult’s theme.
Read Write Inc begins in nursery with sound games and an introduction to letter sounds. A weekly Story to Share book gives parents something to read and discuss at home. In February 2023, nursery children also took home chatter sacks containing activities and books; number songs and practising new vocabulary brought learning into everyday play. Visits from dental students extended learning about looking after teeth.
Outdoor space includes a nursery garden, alongside the school field and grounds. During the Barnardo’s Big Toddle in June 2026, nursery children walked a mile through those grounds, tried animal-inspired movements and finished with family games and a garden picnic. It is a concrete example of movement and family participation extending beyond the classroom.
Starting nursery can be gradual. Stay-and-play sessions can include parents or take place independently, and the transition can be adjusted to each child’s needs through discussion with early years staff. Summer parent meetings, an initial visit and shorter sessions that lengthen over subsequent weeks give families several stages in which to establish routines.
Nursery staffing includes a teacher and a teaching assistant. Snack time sits within both session patterns, alongside small-group activities.
For children with SEND, support begins with early conversations involving families. The class teacher and SENDCo agree adjustments and support with parents, then review what is helping. Speech and Language Therapy and an Educational Psychologist are among the specialist routes available where needed. The wider school building has ramps, low kerbs and a lift, practical features that support access for children with physical difficulties.
A nursery place does not guarantee a Reception place at Harlow Green. Families must make a separate application through Gateshead’s local authority admissions process. The nursery’s admission arrangements instruct parents to apply again in September before their child’s fourth birthday; treat the move as a new application, rather than an automatic continuation.
Preparation for the classroom is a separate matter. Summer transition days introduce children to their next teacher and room, and children starting Reception have sessions to become familiar with their new surroundings. Children with special educational needs also receive a summer transition review, giving families an opportunity to discuss support for the move.
Morning sessions run from 08:45 to 11:45; afternoons run from 12:30 to 15:30. These are general schedules and timings can vary. The core booking pattern is five mornings or five afternoons each week, with attendance expected at every session.
Universal funded provision covers 15 hours across 38 weeks. A limited number of places accommodate eligible children’s additional 15 hours; children taking their 30 hours entirely here are expected to attend all ten sessions. The school can also work with another provider to arrange the entitlement with planned transitions.
Contact the school office on 0191 4876703 or email harlowgreenprimaryschool@gateshead.gov.uk for nursery enquiries. Application forms go back to the office. School uniform combines a yellow polo shirt with a green cardigan or jumper, grey bottoms and black footwear; unbranded items are allowed, and families can request preloved clothing through the office.
The nursery caters for three- and four-year-olds. Admission normally follows the third birthday as soon as practical, subject to space.
The core offer is five mornings or five afternoons a week, and children are expected to attend all five sessions.
Children can attend stay-and-play sessions with or without parents. Early years staff can adjust the transition to individual needs.
No. A separate application is required through the local authority admissions process.
Read Write Inc introduces sound games and initial letter sounds. A Story to Share book goes home weekly for an adult to read and discuss with the child.
