St Teresa's Catholic Primary School Nursery, Hartlepool

Indoor exploration and outdoor play give St Teresa’s nursery its shape, with organised activities alongside time for children to pursue their own interests. Children can join from age 3. This is the nursery within St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School on Callander Road in Hartlepool, with an Early Years team working with families.

The nursery emphasises curiosity, growing confidence and communication. For parents, that puts children’s willingness to explore and express themselves at the centre of its stated aims.

Children spend time on activities organised by adults and on exploration they choose themselves, using both indoor and outdoor environments. The balance gives room for direction from staff as well as children’s own interests. Communication is one of the nursery’s priorities, alongside helping children become more confident and inquisitive.

Outdoor learning also forms part of the school’s approach, using its spacious grounds. The nursery’s combination of indoor and outdoor exploration means learning is not confined to a classroom.

Family involvement starts before entry. Parents are offered a meeting at school or a visit at home, with information to help their child get used to school routines. For children already known to have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), the special educational needs coordinator (SENCO) meets new parents before they start, so concerns and possible solutions can be discussed in advance.

Early identification has a specific team arrangement: Early Years staff and the SENCO regularly discuss concerns arising from observations. Parents can raise concerns with their child’s teacher or approach the SENCO directly. Staff working with young children are expected to respond to emerging difficulties and listen to parents’ concerns about development.

Support follows Assess, Plan, Do, Review: identify the need, agree help, put it into practice and check progress. A School Support Plan records intended outcomes, and reviews involve parents each term. This gives families a role in deciding what help is needed and whether it should change.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through their home local authority in the normal admissions round. For Hartlepool applicants, the route is an electronic application through Hartlepool Borough Council.

For the September 2025 intake, nursery attendance was not an oversubscription criterion. That cycle’s application deadline was 15 January 2025, which has passed. Families should use the normal deadline for their child’s entry year. Familiarity with the school and the allocation of a place are separate matters.

The morning session runs from 8:30am to 11:30am; the afternoon runs from 12:15pm to 3:15pm. Those timings are the practical starting point for fitting nursery around family commitments.

Nursery access is through its own gate, reached from the public footpath between St Teresa’s School and Rossmere School. This gives families a specific entrance to use rather than the entrances for older pupils.

For nursery enquiries, contact the school on 01429 274936 or email admin@stteresashartlepool.bhcet.org.uk. Families wishing to discuss additional needs can arrange an appointment through the school or email send@stteresashartlepool.bhcet.org.uk.