St Oswald's Catholic Primary, Wrekenton: Nursery Review

Matching towers, baking biscuits and learning to bandage an injury give this nursery a practical character. Nursery children belong to St Oswald's Catholic Primary in Wrekenton, on Easington Avenue, within Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust. There is a nursery class teacher, giving the provision its own teaching role within the primary school.

Ofsted graded early years provision Good at the inspection on 10 and 11 December 2024. That judgement covers the school's early years provision. It is not a separate nursery rating.

Learning takes concrete forms. Nursery children have explored matching by pairing shoes and constructing towers that look alike, and have baked biscuits. Another baking activity used currant buns to explore touch. These examples connect early ideas about similarity with things children can handle, build and make.

Language also has a clear place. In December 2024, early years children were learning rhymes and getting to know The Three Little Pigs; work on speaking and listening helped them distinguish letter sounds. Children were able to follow routines and sustain their attention. In parent terms, these are foundations for joining in, listening and beginning to understand how reading works.

People Who Help Us brought a Nerams paramedic into Nursery in June 2026. Children tried bandaging, located their pulse, practised chest compressions and learned about calling 999. It made the topic tangible. Full-time nursery children also took part in Little Kickers PE lessons in October 2025, adding organised movement to their learning.

Faith appears in activities children make themselves: Nursery explored Advent and created wreaths in December 2024. Across early years, children have also turned boxes into a dinosaur and a slide, working together on their creations.

In December 2024, early years children played cooperatively and learned behaviour through the St. Oswald's Way. Familiar expectations give children a shared basis for learning alongside one another.

Parents have joined Nursery for Stay and Play, including a session in March 2026. This gives families a chance to take part in their child's nursery experience. School communications also include electronic newsletters sent to parents.

Food is part of the day. Nursery children ate pizza, spaghetti hoops and pasta at a lunch in September 2024, with custard and cake afterwards. School meals are prepared on site, with a vegetarian main option among the choices. EYFS children are offered a morning snack of vegetables or fruit. Children are asked to bring a water bottle each day and can refill it.

For additional needs, the school has a SEND coordinator and an office contact route for families. Safeguarding staffing includes a designated lead and deputies; staff receive safeguarding training and volunteers undergo DBS checks.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application using Gateshead Council's common application form and meet the council's closing date. Treat that application as a separate step when planning your child's next year.

The nursery timetable has two weekly patterns: 15 hours, or 30 hours for children who are entitled. Both start at 9am. The 15-hour pattern finishes at 3.15pm on Monday and Tuesday and at 11.30am on Wednesday; the 30-hour pattern ends at 3pm, Monday to Friday. The shorter pattern therefore needs different collection arrangements midweek.

School term dates differ from Gateshead Council's dates, so use the school's calendar when organising childcare. For nursery enquiries, contact the school office on 0191 4878641 or info@sto.bwcet.com.