Riverside Primary Academy Nursery Review

A gradual start, familiar routines and early reading give Riverside’s nursery its character. Children can join the nursery class after turning three, subject to space, and parents can accompany them for introductory sessions. This makes settling a shared process rather than a single first day.

The nursery belongs to Riverside Primary Academy on Colliery Road in Dunston, Gateshead. At the Ofsted inspection of 13 and 14 December 2023, early years provision received a Good judgement within the school’s inspection. That is an early years judgement, not a separate nursery rating.

Morning sessions run from 9am to noon; afternoons run from 12.30pm to 3.30pm. Each gives children a three-hour session, with part-time attendance amounting to 15 hours. The practical rhythm is built around recognisable routines: in December 2023, children in early years understood and followed the expectations staff had established. Knowing what happens next helps children participate in the group.

Reading begins in early years. In December 2023, the reading curriculum began in early years and was taught consistently. This gives children an introduction to reading within a shared teaching approach.

Outdoor exploration also features in early years learning. For Earth Day 2025, children explored outdoors and sowed seeds, giving them a practical encounter with the natural world. Across the school’s wider curriculum, December 2023 brought a call for clearer identification of essential knowledge and better checks on learning. This was a school-level improvement action, rather than a nursery-specific criticism.

Settling can proceed gradually over several sessions, with parents joining children to get acquainted with staff and the setting. Admission can be adapted to individual needs. A slower induction may reduce the initial hours a child attends, but an allocated nursery place remains theirs. That matters for children who need time to adjust.

For children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), nursery observation can lead to early intervention through the 0-19 team. The SENCO, class teacher, family and involved agencies plan individual support, with Pupil Learning Plans reviewed at least termly. Parents therefore have a recurring opportunity to discuss the next steps.

Physical access is concrete: the school occupies one floor, has no internal steps and provides two accessible pupil toilets. These features support families managing mobility needs.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application; Riverside’s nursery arrangements require parents to apply again. Confirm the current Reception application route and deadline before applying. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as two separate decisions.

In November 2022, the nursery’s funded model allocated the universal 15-hour entitlement across five mornings or five afternoons, over 38 weeks. Eligible children could use an extended 30-hour pattern, then running from 9am to 3pm on five days. Paid wraparound could supplement either pattern.

Additional nursery hours could be purchased only in exceptional circumstances, at the headteacher’s discretion. For that arrangement, payment was required ahead of each half term and excluded lunch, which needed separate booking and payment. Contact the school for current charges.

Nursery applications can be made throughout the academic year. The school office handles enquiries; telephone 0191 460 1918. Start-date confirmation is sent by post approximately six weeks before attendance begins, helping families prepare for the agreed induction.