Humshaugh Church of England First School Nursery

Fairytale dance and an EYFS playground give Humshaugh’s nursery a character of its own within the first school. Provision for children aged 2, 3 and 4 sits in the EYFS Unit, with nursery children belonging to Class 1. This is an introduction to school life within an existing school community.

Funded nursery places start from age 2, with 15 or 30 hours offered. For families choosing an early start, that makes the nursery’s learning programme and its place within the school relevant alongside the childcare arrangement.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together learning to communicate, developing relationships and physical skills, alongside early reading, mathematics, creativity and understanding the world. Here, the school encourages children to investigate, ask questions and try things out. Observation and concentration are part of that work too: the emphasis is on developing ways to learn as well as acquiring knowledge.

Communication and social development receive explicit attention. The school aims to build on what each child already knows and adapt learning to individual needs. For parents, this places a child’s existing experience within the learning process, rather than treating the start of nursery as a blank slate.

Fairytales provide a named theme for dance in Class 1, giving movement a place alongside language and creative work. The EYFS playground adds an outdoor setting for play.

In May 2024, early-years children developed knowledge of letter sounds quickly. Creative learning also had substance: children talked confidently about mixing colours and understood cubism. These examples connect practical activity with being able to explain an idea, an encouraging combination for families interested in how early learning takes shape.

Staffing includes an EYFS lead who teaches Class 1 and an EYFS teacher with a higher-level teaching assistant role. A senior teacher also holds the SENCO role, providing a school contact for special educational needs and disabilities.

Parents are encouraged to maintain close contact with school about their child’s learning. That partnership matters to the school’s stated aim of extending learning according to individual needs. Safeguarding responsibilities include two staff trained for designated safeguarding lead duties, with further safeguarding training also held by a governor.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the applicable deadline. Northumberland County Council’s admissions service is the route signposted for school admissions.

The school aims to make the move to statutory school age feel continuous, placing emphasis on communication and social skills. That educational aim should be kept separate from the allocation of a Reception place.

The school office handles enquiries: telephone 01434 681408 or email admin@humshaugh.northumberland.sch.uk. Contact the school for current charges.

School breakfast provision starts at 8am each day, while the home-page arrangement gives after-school wraparound until 6pm from Monday to Thursday. These are school-level arrangements. Bookings go through the school office.