Stannington First School Review 2026: A small Northumberland first school with strong wraparound provision

As a first school ending at Year 4, families should not expect the same set of headline end-of-primary measures that are commonly discussed for Year 6. In this context, the most useful external checkpoint is inspection evidence and curriculum transparency, rather than trying to compare like-for-like key stage outcomes with full primary schools.

The latest published inspection record shows the school is graded Good, with the most recent inspection dated 23 November 2022.

Curriculum detail on the website is organised by subject, with separate curriculum overview pages, which is often a sign that leaders want parents to understand sequencing and coverage rather than simply listing topics. For younger pupils, the quality marker is typically consistency: clear routines, strong early reading foundations, and well-chosen knowledge building across wider subjects.

For Reception-age pupils and Nursery children, the school day timings indicate an early start aligned to the rest of the school, which helps with continuity for families with siblings across year groups.

Because the school runs to Year 4, transition happens earlier than many families outside Northumberland may expect. In areas operating first and middle school pathways, the next step is usually transfer to a middle school for Year 5. The practical implication is that parents should consider the whole pathway early, not only the first school, especially around travel and sibling logistics.

Reception to Year 4 admissions are described as local-authority coordinated, while Nursery admissions are managed directly by the school. That split matters: the main school route follows the county timetable, while Nursery places typically depend on the school’s own process and available spaces.

The school is oversubscribed in the most recent Reception-route demand snapshot provided, with 48 applications for 25 offers, which equates to 1.92 applications per place. This level of demand usually means that small changes in local cohort size can affect outcomes year to year.

For Northumberland Reception entry (September 2026), the council’s published dates include: the portal opening on 1 November 2025, a closing date of 15 January 2026, and offers on 16 April 2026.

Parents trying to sense-check whether admission is realistic can use FindMySchool’s Map Search to understand local proximity context, then confirm criteria and deadlines through the local authority route described by the school.

Pastoral support is closely linked to safeguarding, and the school’s safeguarding information is explicit about early identification, record-keeping systems, and multi-agency working where appropriate. For parents, the implication is that concerns should be handled through defined processes, which is particularly important in early years where communication and behaviour can be more variable.

Wraparound staff are named on the provision page, again suggesting that the school treats breakfast and after-school care as staffed provision with leadership responsibility, not informal supervision.

The strongest extracurricular signal here is not “lots of clubs”, it is the mix of practical, age-appropriate activities and the fact they are woven into both wraparound and wider provision. The breakfast and after-school club describes activities including cooking, forest school, arts and crafts, and outdoor play. That matters because it aligns with how younger children learn best after a full day, through active, hands-on experiences rather than additional desk-based sessions.

Alongside wraparound activities, the school also lists a set of additional clubs across the year, including cricket, football, futsal, guitar, musical theatre, rugby, and STEM club. For a small first school, that breadth is meaningful; it gives children a chance to “try on” interests early, and it helps families see whether the school’s week fits their child’s temperament.

The school publishes a clear school-day structure: gates open at 08:35, registration is 08:45, and the day ends at 15:15. Wraparound provision starts earlier, with breakfast club opening at 07:30 and after-school sessions running up to 17:30.

For transport planning, this is a village setting, so families often weigh walkability, parking constraints at peak times, and whether wraparound meaningfully reduces commuting pressure by spreading pick-up and drop-off times.

• A first-school pathway is a deliberate choice. Transition after Year 4 can be a positive step, but it means planning earlier for the next school in the chain.

• Admission is competitive. The latest demand snapshot shows more applications than offers for Reception entry, so it is wise to treat a place as uncertain until confirmed.

• Nursery and main school routes differ. Nursery is handled directly by the school, while Reception to Year 4 runs through the local authority, so families need to track two processes if applying across phases.

• Wraparound is a big part of the offer. That will suit working families, but it can also mean some children spend a longer day on site, which is not right for everyone at age 3 to 7.

Stannington First School suits families who want a smaller community first school experience with clear routines, a well-defined day structure, and substantial wraparound provision. It should appeal to parents who value early extracurricular breadth, particularly practical activities and early STEM and performing arts exposure, and who are comfortable planning the next transition after Year 4. The main constraint is admission competitiveness, so the best approach is to apply early, follow the county timetable closely, and treat Nursery and Reception as two distinct routes.