East Rainton Primary School Nursery

Bikes, scooters and a playground with a softer surface give East Rainton’s youngest children space to get moving. Nursery entry starts at three, within the school’s Foundation Stage provision on School Road in East Rainton. This is the beginning of a school journey, with play and relationships shaping the early curriculum.

Learning follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), with Development Matters guidance informing the curriculum. In parent language, the approach combines learning through play with attention to each child’s interests, relationships and independence. Staff plan play activities across the framework’s learning areas rather than treating play as a break from learning.

Half-term topics draw on children’s interests or national events. That gives activities a shared theme while leaving room for what interests the children themselves. The curriculum also describes daily phonics beginning in Nursery, introducing early reading work alongside the play activities. Foundation Stage children can use Teach Your Monster to Read and Bug Club Phonics games and online books both at home and in school, providing something families can share beyond the classroom.

Outside, the Foundation Stage playground has purpose-built equipment on a softer surface. Younger children also use the main playground for scooters, bikes and cars. These are concrete opportunities for movement within the day. In June 2023, Ofsted recognised improvements to the early years spaces, indoors and outside. Ofsted also found that some planned Reception activities were less effective than they should have been in helping children learn the intended curriculum. Leaders had begun addressing this weakness. The concern applied specifically to Reception provision.

Settling begins before the first session. The prospectus describes a home visit during the preceding term, giving staff a chance to meet the child with their parents in familiar surroundings. Sharing information about a child’s needs and habits is part of that preparation, so the relationship starts before Nursery attendance.

For children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), preparation has a practical purpose. In June 2023, transition arrangements enabled staff to understand children’s needs before Nursery entry. Support plans were ready from the start and revisited regularly, with help linked to individual targets. That makes preparation relevant to the support a child receives once attending.

The prospectus describes a full-time teacher and nursery nurse for Foundation Stage, while allowing class organisation to change with numbers. Its school meal arrangements include food prepared onsite and supervision by teaching assistants at lunchtime. For communication, there are two progress discussions each year, an annual written report and a termly outline of learning, giving families several ways to follow their child’s development.

Separate admissions. Attending this nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the applicable deadline. Treat choosing Nursery and applying for Reception as two decisions, even when the preferred school remains the same.

School visits can be arranged by appointment, offering families a chance to look around before choosing. For enquiries, contact the school office on 0191 553 6505. East Rainton Primary School’s address is School Road, East Rainton, Houghton le Spring, DH5 9RA.