Monkhouse Primary School Nursery

Story characters asking for help give Monkhouse’s early years projects a playful starting point. Books and language shape the learning, with problems for children to tackle rather than stories simply to hear. This is the school’s own nursery, taking children aged three, on Wallington Avenue in North Shields.

The nursery teacher also holds the Early Years Lead role, linking classroom teaching with responsibility for the phase. Ofsted judged early years provision Good at the inspection on 12 and 13 September 2023. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Learning projects organise the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum. In practical terms, children develop language, early number understanding, physical skills and their ability to relate to others through connected activities. Core books provide a starting point for conversation and exploration. The Characteristics of Effective Learning approach adds attention to how children learn: trying ideas, taking initiative and continuing when something proves difficult.

During September 2023, children learned early number and reading skills through games and singing. Learning areas encouraged investigation and mathematical thinking, while opportunities to talk supported communication. Routines were established promptly, giving children a framework for taking part.

Creative work involves exploring paint alongside collage, printing and natural materials, both outside and indoors. The emphasis is on experimenting with materials and processes. Early computing is similarly hands-on: children explore controls, remote devices and equipment that produces light or music, alongside language about direction. EYFS has class sets of iPads, rather than an individual device allocation.

The nursery teacher is also the school’s SENDCO, bringing the two responsibilities together. Families can contact the SENDCO through the office. North Tyneside’s SENDIASS provides independent information and advice for parents, including support with the Education, Health and Care Plan process.

Individual support. In September 2023, some school pupils’ SEND plans failed to match their needs or explain the support required precisely enough. This was a school-wide concern; families considering additional support should keep the specificity of their child’s targets in focus.

The Hub is a school room accessible to all children for quiet activities, play and relaxation. It provides a physical space for time away from busier activity. The school’s PACE behaviour approach emphasises empathy, curiosity, acceptance and playfulness, treating behaviour as communication and encouraging adults to acknowledge children’s feelings.

Attending Monkhouse’s nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families apply separately through the normal school admissions process, with North Tyneside coordinating applications on behalf of the governing body. Treat the nursery choice and the Reception application as separate decisions, and submit the latter by the applicable admissions deadline.

The nursery morning runs from 8:50am to 11:35am. A further block labelled 30 Hour Session runs from 11:35am to 2:35pm, followed by optional childcare until 3:25pm. These distinct finishing points matter when planning collection and the working day.

For nursery enquiries, contact the school office on 0191 3000490 or office@monkhouseprimary.co.uk. Prospective parents are welcome to visit the school, with autumn opening evenings also offered.