The FMS Inspection Score is FindMySchool's proprietary analysis based on official Ofsted and ISI inspection reports. It converts ratings into a standardised 1–10 scale for fair comparison across all schools in England.
Disclaimer: The FMS Inspection Score is an independent analysis by FindMySchool. It is not endorsed by or affiliated with Ofsted or ISI. Always refer to the official Ofsted or ISI report for the full picture of a school’s inspection outcome.
Nursery at Hexham First School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
The Hexham Way gives this school nursery its wider setting: independence and kindness sit alongside ambition, resilience and respect. These are the qualities Hexham First School wants children to develop, giving families a clear sense of its aims beyond learning alone.
Nursery provision sits within the school's Early Years Unit on Beaufront Avenue in Hexham. Children can start in the term following their third birthday. This is a school-based early years option, with an EYFS teaching team and an early years higher level teaching assistant.
Mathematics provides one concrete thread through nursery learning. In April 2022, the curriculum built mathematical understanding progressively, beginning in Nursery. For parents, the useful distinction is that early mathematical learning forms the beginning of a planned sequence, with knowledge developed step by step.
The school's ambition for learning combines challenge with enjoyment. The Hexham Way adds a personal dimension to that aim: becoming independent and treating others respectfully matter alongside ambition. These are school-wide intentions that frame the nursery's place within Hexham First.
Early identification shapes the school's approach to additional needs. Staff assess basic skills continuously and involve parents when concerns arise, rather than leaving families out of the discussion. External services also help assess individual needs. For a nursery family, this makes the partnership with staff an important part of discussing a child's development.
School support includes Lego therapy, sensory circuits and a sensory room. These are school-level resources, with support tailored to individual needs; they should not be read as a fixed programme for every nursery child. Where appropriate, children with particular medical needs have individual care plans. Staff training can include input from medical professionals, connecting care arrangements with the needs of the child.
Safeguarding communication reaches parents through Class Dojo and safeguarding newsletters. Across the school, staff complete safeguarding training annually and receive updates each week. New staff also receive training during induction. These arrangements give families concrete routes for receiving safety information and a defined training structure for the adults working with children.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application, even when their child already attends the nursery. Northumberland's local authority coordinates Reception admissions, so joining the nursery and applying for school are distinct steps.
For September 2026 entry, the online application deadline was 15 January 2026. That cycle is now past. The practical point for families choosing nursery is to treat the later Reception application as a separate responsibility, rather than assuming their nursery application carries forward. The admissions team can be contacted on 0345 600 6400.
Visits to the Early Years Unit are welcomed. To join the nursery admission list, telephone 01434 603 467. Families can also contact the school at admin@hexhamfirst.co.uk to arrange a visit, making it possible to discuss joining directly with the school.
The nursery has a choice of attendance packages. The school is the contact for current charges. Keep the nursery enquiry and the later Reception application separate: the first goes to the school, while Reception admissions are coordinated by the local authority.
Children are admitted to the Early Years Unit in the term after their third birthday.
Yes. Visits to the Early Years Unit are welcomed. Contact the school to arrange one.
Telephone 01434 603 467 to add your child to the list.
No. A separate Reception application is required, including for children already attending the nursery. The local authority coordinates Reception admissions.
The school consults parents when staff identify concerns and works with external services to assess and address individual needs.
