Walkergate Community School Nursery

On-site woods give Walkergate’s youngest children space for den building, bug discovery and campfire cooking. Forest school happens weekly. For families who want outdoor exploration to be part of ordinary nursery life, that is a concrete attraction.

Walkergate Community School’s nursery provision covers ages 2–4, with places for two-year-olds alongside Nursery for three- and four-year-olds. Early years occupies a separate site from the main school, so families should distinguish the nursery location from the main school when planning their journey. An Early Years Phase Leader forms part of the staff structure.

Play is the nursery’s chosen route into learning. Its Early Years curriculum gives children opportunities to investigate materials and develop skills through exploration, alongside teaching in literacy and maths. In parent terms, learning includes what children discover while playing as well as what adults teach directly.

The outdoor area includes the nursery’s own woods. Weekly forest school brings activities such as exploring a bug hotel, building dens and trying food cooked over a campfire. These are specific experiences to talk about with a child afterwards, from what they spotted to how they made their den.

Creative and sensory activities include working with playdough or clay, painting, and exploring sand and water. Small world play and role play provide opportunities for imagination. Books have a place too: the school’s Reading Spine begins in Nursery, and Read Write Inc introduces Nursery children to Set 1 sounds and rhymes during the summer term. This gives early reading a named approach and a clear starting point.

In April 2025, children across early years became familiar with routines promptly, while adults helped them remain involved in play and learning. Early writing needed attention, however: teaching approaches were used unevenly, slowing some children’s development. For parents, the useful question is how staff now support consistent practice in forming letters and developing writing.

Lunch needs advance preparation. Children attending the 30-hour nursery provision must bring a packed lunch, making this part of the family’s daily routine.

Support for additional needs includes concrete nursery activities. During 2024–2025, speech and language referrals and programmes were in place, with Box Time and Special Time used regularly for children with SEND in early years. Nursery support also included access to a sensory room and more outdoor opportunities intended to develop physical skills. These arrangements connect communication support with the spaces children use.

Families can raise concerns with the SENCo through walkergate.admin@neat.org.uk. The school works with parents to assess needs and plan support. For children with additional needs, family involvement includes review meetings, and transition support covers both starting Nursery and moving from Nursery to Reception.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Newcastle City Council’s school application form, returning it to the council and meeting the council’s Reception deadline. Nursery applications go directly to the school; the two processes are separate.

Transition support for children with additional needs helps families prepare for the change. That support concerns the child’s move between stages, rather than securing admission.

Funded hours are available for eligible two-year-olds, while Nursery offers 15 and 30 funded hours for eligible three- and four-year-olds. Additional nursery hours are charged by session; contact the school for current charges. Nursery has a termly intake, allowing starts at different points in the school year.

Apply directly to the school for Nursery or two-year-old provision. To enquire or arrange a nursery visit, telephone 0191 265 5737. A visit offers families the chance to meet the team and see the woods before deciding.