Brougham Primary School Nursery Review

Sand, role play and room for bigger movement give Brougham’s nursery its character. An outdoor play area and access to the small and large halls extend learning beyond tabletop activities, giving children different spaces for exploration and physical play.

Brougham Primary School’s early provision includes Preschool for two-year-olds and nursery within its Foundation Stage. Nursery children usually start in the term following their third birthday. The school aims to build confidence and independence, with social and emotional development a central part of its approach.

In November 2024, Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good. That judgement covers the wider early years provision within the school.

Play supplies much of the learning material here. Children can explore water and construction, experiment with art and mark making, or use the home corner for pretend play. Books, sensory experiences, games and music and movement add different ways to participate. This gives families a concrete picture of learning through activities rather than a day built solely around formal lessons.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together early learning and children’s personal development. At Brougham, communication and language are a central focus, alongside the social skills children need for later learning. Early phonics is taught daily across the early years, introducing the foundations of reading. Outdoor play and movement in the halls complement the quieter activities.

During November 2024, early years activities supported children’s physical skills and their understanding of the world. There was also a clear teaching concern: support for language was sometimes insufficiently tailored, slowing some children’s progress in foundational language and reading skills. For a child who needs help communicating, the precision of that support is an important consideration.

Settling begins with an open afternoon before children start. Parents are also encouraged to accompany their child for the first nursery session, helping them become familiar with the surroundings. That gives the child an initial opportunity to explore with a parent alongside them. Regular parental involvement is encouraged too.

Preschool has a leader and key workers. For children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, the school has a SEND lead practitioner and a SEND coordinator, and works with Hartlepool Local Authority. Parents with concerns about speech, language or communication can raise them with their child’s teacher. This provides a direct starting point for discussing an individual child’s needs.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. Hartlepool Borough Council administers school admissions on behalf of the academy trust, so choosing nursery and applying for school are distinct decisions.

An open afternoon before starting Reception gives families a chance to become familiar with the next setting. That preparation is separate from the allocation of a place.

Nursery has morning and afternoon sessions: 8:30am to 11:30am and 12:15pm to 3:15pm. Preschool has a different timetable, with sessions from 8:45am to 11:45am and noon to 3pm. Families using the two provisions therefore have different collection and start times to plan around.

For nursery enquiries, contact the school office on 01429 273663 or email school.admin@brougham.hartlepool.sch.uk. Foundation Stage staff provide nursery application forms. When demand is high, children may wait one or two terms for a place, so the usual starting point after a third birthday is subject to availability.