St Francis Horndale CofE Primary School Nursery

A nursery within a Church of England primary school gives this provision its defining context. St Francis Horndale CofE Primary School has nursery provision at Scholars Path in Newton Aycliffe. For families considering it, the practical distinction is between joining the nursery and securing a later school place: those are separate decisions and separate applications.

The school’s communication routine includes curriculum newsletters emailed on Thursday at 7pm. These also appear online, giving parents a way to follow curriculum news and return to updates later. Questions about learning can be discussed with a class teacher; appointments with a deputy headteacher provide another route for a broader curriculum conversation. These are school-wide arrangements.

Support conversations can begin before a child starts. Parents of children with special educational needs or disabilities can arrange a discussion and school visit with the headteacher or SENDCO. Children can also see the school during its working day to become familiar with it. For a family planning a start, that creates an opportunity to explain their child’s needs and discuss possible provision directly with the team.

The school’s SEND process gives parents a defined part in planning support. When a concern is identified, a class teacher meets the family to produce a Short Note, bringing together difficulties, strengths and agreed next steps. An individual SEND Support Plan follows where a special educational need is identified. Assessment, planning, putting support into practice and reviewing progress form a repeating cycle, so the plan is intended to change as the child’s needs develop.

Parental involvement continues through termly discussions about support and progress, alongside conversations with the class teacher or SENCO. Children contribute their own views where appropriate. Specialist input may include educational psychology or speech and language assessment, depending on need; families are invited to discuss the findings and proposed next steps when outside agencies become involved. These are the school’s support arrangements, rather than a separate assessment of nursery practice.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply separately for Reception through the normal application route and meet the relevant deadline. Treat the nursery choice as a decision about the nursery itself, rather than an assurance about the next stage. A child with an Education, Health and Care Plan follows a different admission and transfer process.

The school office is the contact point at Scholars Path, Newton Aycliffe, DL5 7HB. Telephone 01325 300236 or email stfrancis@durhamlearning.net. For SEND discussions, the office can arrange contact with the relevant team member. The SENCO coordinates provision and links families with external agencies; a lead first aider has responsibility for medical care plans and medicines. These distinct responsibilities give families an identifiable route for discussing educational support or medical care.