Nursery at Heddon-on-the-Wall St Andrew's

Hedgehogs gives the nursery its own identity within Heddon-on-the-Wall, St Andrew's Church of England Primary School on Trajan Walk. This is the school's nursery class, with a nursery teacher and an early years coordinator within the wider staff structure.

The school places Christian belief and practice within its educational aims, while welcoming children of any faith or none. For parents, that makes the religious character part of the choice from the outset, alongside the nursery's learning spaces and approach to children's interests.

Earlier nursery introduction videos featured a Maths Area, Home Corner, Mark Making Area and Reading Garden. These are useful points of focus for families considering the balance between early number work, making marks and play in their child's day.

Early reading begins in Nursery with learning letter sounds. In June 2023, Ofsted found that early years children understood familiar routines and responded to the expectations adults set. The early years environment supported exploration and enjoyment, with an atmosphere that was settled and organised. That combination matters: predictable routines can give children a framework in which to explore.

Planning also takes account of the children themselves. In June 2023, the early years team planned together around individual interests and needs. For a parent considering the early years foundation stage (EYFS), the concrete picture here is of learning spaces, first steps with sounds and activities shaped around the children using them.

Support sits within a wider school team that includes a SEND coordinator, a deputy SEND coordinator and a THRIVE practitioner with pastoral and mental health responsibilities. Parents can contact the SEND team at send@heddon-school.co.uk. This gives families a direct route for discussing additional needs.

Ordinarily Available Provision is the school's first response when a child struggles in class. Where appropriate, its planned support includes introducing vocabulary before lessons and adapting work or materials. Individual adult assistance may be provided in lessons for children with Education, Health and Care Plans. These are conditional arrangements, so the useful question is how they apply to an individual child.

Safeguarding contacts include the early years leader as a deputy designated safeguarding lead. Families can reach the safeguarding team at dsl@heddon-school.co.uk, providing a separate contact for concerns about a child's safety.

A separate application. Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply again through the normal Reception process; choosing Hedgehogs should therefore be a decision about the nursery experience itself.

Applications go through Northumberland County Council, or through the family's own local authority if they live outside the school's catchment area. The school asks families to reapply in the October before admission, while the application portal opens in November and closes in January, with exact dates to be confirmed. Applications are considered together and ranked against the admissions criteria.

Nursery enquiries go directly to the school. Application paperwork is returned to the school office, marked Nursery Application, and includes an admission form and an ethnicity form.

Annual introductory videos support children joining the school. Families also receive changes to calendar dates by email or through the Friday Flyer, helping them keep track of arrangements.