St Bega's Catholic Primary School Nursery, Hartlepool

Making play dough and drawing the constructions children have built together give St Bega's early years provision its clearest character: learning involves making, collaborating and representing ideas. The nursery belongs to St Bega's Catholic Primary School on Thorpe Street in Hartlepool, within Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust.

At the Ofsted inspection on 7 and 8 May 2025, early years provision was graded Good. That judgement covers the school's early years provision rather than a separately inspected nursery. Children were confident and happy, with independence another feature of their early learning. For parents, these findings put children's experience of learning alongside the formal judgement.

At the May 2025 inspection, children learned well in both indoor and outdoor environments. Children participated positively in the activities provided across early years. The physical setting mattered at that inspection because learning took place in both environments.

Making their own play dough gives children an active role in producing something they can use. Building constructions together, then sketching them, connects a shared practical activity with drawing. These are concrete examples of children working with materials and recording an idea.

Number learning also featured in the May 2025 early years findings. Children enjoyed thoughtfully chosen opportunities to develop their number understanding. Alongside construction and play dough, this gives parents a picture of practical activity with a learning purpose. The examples show both making and mathematical learning within the early years experience.

Familiar routines are part of the experience for the youngest children. In May 2025, they understood the day's routines and what was expected of them. That familiarity matters alongside the early years findings about confidence and independence: children knew the pattern of the day as well as engaging with its activities.

Safeguarding arrangements across the school were effective in May 2025. The inspection included checks within early years, so this aspect of the school's responsibility included its youngest children.

Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet the normal deadline. Choosing this nursery and applying for a school place are separate decisions; familiarity with the school should not be treated as an admission entitlement.

The school address is Thorpe Street, Hartlepool, TS24 0DX. For nursery enquiries, contact the school on 01429267768. This gives families a direct school contact when they are ready to take their interest further.