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Nursery at Longhorsley St Helen's Church of England Aided 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Stories, playdough and learning alongside older children give this nursery its character. At Longhorsley St Helen's Church of England Aided First School, provision for children aged 3 and 4 sits within the school's early years setting. Class 1 brings Nursery and Reception children together, giving younger children opportunities to learn with older peers.
Ofsted judged early years to be Strong standard in March 2026. That judgement covers the school's early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery.
Play and focused teaching both have a place. Children choose and explore activities, with practitioners helping them extend their thinking; teachers also organise experiences guided by adults. Spacious areas inside and outside allow children to move between the two, so learning can use both environments.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) gives the curriculum its shape. For parents, that means attention to talking and listening, relationships and emotions, and physical development alongside early reading, mathematics, creative work and learning about the world. Activities are adapted around children's interests. Persistence matters too: children are encouraged to try ideas, concentrate and keep going when something takes practice.
Core stories provide starting points for wider learning. Repeated reading draws attention to rhyme, rhythm and story patterns, helping children retell familiar tales and invent their own. Sound activities prepare them to blend and separate spoken sounds. Read Write Inc. begins once a child is confident with those skills; books to read at home follow when the child is ready, matched to their phonics development. The sequence follows readiness.
Writing begins with physical preparation. Tweezers help exercise small hand movements, while dough disco involves moving playdough to music. These activities build the coordination needed before letter formation is taught. Early years music also includes investigating instruments and sounds, with Charanga used across the school for structured musical activities.
Individual progress shapes support. In March 2026, early years staff monitored each child's learning and planned help around their starting points. Adults demonstrated language and revisited vocabulary, giving children repeated opportunities to hear and use new words. Familiar routines supported growing independence, while children learned to help one another.
School 360 carries EYFS updates for parents, and families are encouraged to share learning they notice at home. That gives parents a practical connection with classroom learning rather than leaving the nursery day separate from home life.
The curriculum is adapted for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Families can arrange a discussion with the SEND coordinator through the office. The school also uses Thrive to help understand emotional needs and plan activities that support children's participation. For medical care, only medication prescribed by a GP or clinician can be administered, and minor injuries are communicated home using a green slip.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate school application through Northumberland County Council's Admissions portal. The school asks parents, whether living within its catchment or outside it, to complete their School Preference form in December at the latest before school entry.
Day-to-day familiarity is a separate benefit. Nursery children already work alongside Reception children, who encourage them and help with learning. In March 2026, one example involved older children fetching name cards to help younger children write their names. This offers contact with older peers; it does not secure admission.
N1 Nursery operates in the afternoon only. Nursery registration forms come from the school office, and parents are asked to register after their child's second birthday as soon as possible.
For enquiries, telephone 01670 788316 or email longhorsleyadmin@fedlongwhaltschools.uk. Prospective parents can arrange a visit through the office. The school is on Drummonds Close in Longhorsley, Morpeth, NE65 8UT.
The early years nursery offer caters for children aged 3 and 4.
Yes. Class 1 combines Nursery and Reception, and younger children work alongside older peers who help and encourage them.
Core stories and activities with spoken sounds prepare children for reading. Read Write Inc. starts when children are confident with blending and separating sounds, with matched reading books sent home when they are ready.
No. A separate school application is required through Northumberland County Council's Admissions portal. The school asks for the School Preference form to be completed in December at the latest before entry.
Contact the school office on 01670 788316 or at longhorsleyadmin@fedlongwhaltschools.uk. Prospective parents can make an appointment to visit through the office.
