Sacred Heart Primary School Nursery Review

Songs and programmable toys feature in Sacred Heart’s early learning, while older pupils supported nursery children as buddies in June 2023. This is the nursery class at Sacred Heart Primary School, a Catholic primary in Fenham, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Early learning includes music, making and exploring their surroundings.

The Sacred Heart Goals include Faith, Intellect and Personal Growth. These give families a sense of the school’s educational and religious character alongside the practical nursery day.

Language begins with singing and rhyme. In June 2023, nursery children were developing vocabulary through these activities, giving them words to use as their learning progresses. Music also includes movement and instruments suited to children’s ages across the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Children can repeat musical ideas, experiment with sounds and perform together.

EYFS learning connects practical activity with understanding the world. Small-world play, stories and role play help children explore their surroundings and differences between environments and cultures. Children have opportunities to ask questions and talk about their observations. In science, staff encourage early-years children to describe what they notice and begin connecting those observations with scientific ideas.

Making has a place too. The Expressive Arts and Design strand involves trying materials and tools, exploring techniques and sharing creations. Computing takes an equally practical form: programmable toys, software and activities away from screens introduce experimenting, solving problems and working together. That means early computing extends beyond using a screen.

Daily early-years maths sessions use Mastering the curriculum and Number mastery, with further activities to revisit learning during continuous provision. The physical setting adds another dimension: in June 2023, children across the school’s age groups used an adventure area, with a cycle track, greenhouse, garden and tadpole pond among the outdoor features.

The staff structure includes a nursery higher-level teaching assistant and an Early Years Leader. Older children contribute too: in June 2023, pupils in Years 5 and 6 undertook buddy roles supporting nursery children. This gave the youngest children contact with pupils beyond their own class at that time.

Meals are prepared and served on site, with specific dietary requirements taken into account. Food is therefore part of the school’s in-house provision, rather than simply a packed-lunch arrangement.

For families dealing with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), the school’s SEND coordinator and other staff are points of contact. Newcastle’s Local Offer provides another route to information and family support. Sacred Heart also participates in Operation Encompass: notifications from Northumbria Police about domestic violence involving families enable staff to support affected children.

Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal school admissions route, using Newcastle City Council’s admissions service. Treat that application as a separate decision from joining the nursery.

Nursery applications use a nursery admissions form. Familiarity with the school community and the buddy support observed in June 2023 should be understood separately from the allocation of a Reception place.

The nursery gate opens at 9.00am, with children passed directly to staff. Collection is at the nursery gate at 3.00pm. These nursery arrangements give parents specific handover points at both ends of the day.

Enquiries can be made through the school’s contact form, by emailing admin@shprimary.org.uk or by calling 0191 274 6695. The school is on Convent Road in Fenham. Adults must accompany children across the car park, and drivers must use marked parking bays for dropping off or collecting. Those rules matter when organising the daily handover.