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Nursery at Hetton Primary 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Duplo robots, song spoons and climbing ramps filled Hetton’s two-year-old class updates in 2023–2024. The provision combines a room for two-year-olds with a Nursery unit for children aged three and four, within Hetton Primary School on Moorsley Road in Hetton-le-Hole. These are distinct stages of early education within the same school.
The Explorers Room is the name used for the two-year-old provision in its 2023–2024 class updates. Those accounts show learning built around handling materials, talking with adults and playing alongside other children. The emphasis is on small, practical steps: choosing an object, waiting for a turn and explaining a drawing.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the curriculum framework. For parents, the activities illustrate what that means in practice: play becomes an opportunity to develop language, movement and early understanding of number.
In the two-year-olds’ 2023–2024 updates, Duplo building moved beyond towers to models such as robots, with adults introducing colour words and counting. Song spoons and rhyme puppets helped children choose songs and practise sharing in small groups. Sorting objects by colour gave staff another opportunity to connect counting words with individual objects. These are concrete ways to bring conversation and number into play.
Physical exploration had space indoors and outside. June 2024 activities included an indoor climbing frame and an outdoor frame with ladders and a slide board. Chalk, foam and rollers offered different ways to make marks, while the Heuristic Area supplied natural materials for hands-on exploration. The variety gives children different ways to participate, from building and climbing to quieter investigation.
Reading also has a place early on. At the February 2024 inspection, Ofsted described two-year-olds sharing stories and Nursery children using books, songs and rhymes; phonics began in Nursery during the summer term. That places shared language and listening alongside the later introduction of letter sounds.
Joining-school induction includes conversations with families, visits beforehand and an exchange of information. This gives parents an opportunity to explain their child’s needs before starting. In February 2024, the two-year-old children were settled, listened to adults and cooperated with instructions.
Food appeared as a learning activity in the two-year-olds’ archive: children mixed cake ingredients and made pizza, then tasted what they had prepared. Adults used these experiences to introduce vocabulary and practise taking turns. This was practical learning through preparing and exploring food.
For additional needs, families can contact the school’s SEND coordinator through the office. The SEND page also directs parents to Sunderland’s Local Offer and The Rainbow Guide, a resource written by parent carers. These provide routes into a discussion about support alongside the school team.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the local authority; Hetton’s admissions page directs these applications to Sunderland’s admissions service. Treat choosing Nursery and applying for Reception as separate decisions.
Transition activities help children become familiar with the next classroom. For the September 2023 intake, the programme included Stay and Play, family meetings, home visits and a Teddy Bear’s Picnic. Children could explore the Reception environment while parents spoke with staff. These were opportunities for familiarity, separate from the allocation of places.
Morning sessions for both two-year-olds and Nursery run from 8:45am to 11:45am. Nursery also has an afternoon session from 12:20pm to 3:20pm. The weekly pattern is 15 hours for two-year-olds and 15 hours for Nursery, with 30 hours for Nursery where the child is entitled. The morning and afternoon timings matter when arranging work and collection.
Nursery education is offered during term time. The school directs families to Childcare Choices to check funding eligibility and obtain a funding code. An electronic expression-of-interest form provides an enquiry route, and the office passes enquiries to the Early Years Lead. Telephone 0191 5623323 or email SHPoffice@hettonprimary.org.uk. Families can also arrange a school visit by calling the office.
There is provision for two-year-olds and a Nursery unit for children aged three and four.
Two-year-olds and Nursery have a morning session from 8:45am to 11:45am. The Nursery afternoon session runs from 12:20pm to 3:20pm.
Nursery offers 15 hours, or 30 hours where the child is entitled. The school directs families to Childcare Choices for funding checks.
No. Reception requires a separate application to the local authority.
Use the electronic expression-of-interest form or contact the office on 0191 5623323 or SHPoffice@hettonprimary.org.uk. School visits can be arranged by telephone.
