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Nursery at Sir James Knott Memorial Nursery School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
A Mud Kitchen, Beach School and projects that follow children's questions give Sir James Knott Memorial Nursery School its character. This is a maintained nursery school devoted to early education, with provision for children aged two to four at River View in North Shields. The Nest serves younger children separately; this review focuses on the nursery school.
The Two Year Old Nook, Rising Three Nook and Nursery Nook organise provision around children's developmental stages. The middle group bridges the younger provision and the main nursery, giving children time to become familiar with routines while practising communication and independence.
Children's interests help determine what they investigate. Project planning changes weekly, while an investigation can continue for days, weeks or months. Children work together, exchange ideas and test possibilities through play. That gives a question time to develop rather than requiring children to abandon it when a short activity ends.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together learning about language, relationships and movement with early mathematics, literacy, creativity and understanding the world. Birth to 5 Matters also informs the Nook provision. In everyday terms, children explore through sensory play, outdoor activities, songs and stories, with adults shaping experiences around their stage of development.
Physical spaces give those activities different settings. The Nursery Library provides somewhere quiet to share or explore books, while the Lending Library extends reading into family life. Outside, the Mud Kitchen supports imaginative play and conversation. Forest School and Beach School take learning into the local environment across the year.
In June 2022, children mixed eucalyptus potions outside, played aboard a boat and used china cups for pretend tea indoors. Stories, rhyme and rhythm helped develop early reading skills; drumming through the music moves project encouraged self-expression. These examples connect practical play with language and confidence.
A key person supports each child in the Two Year Old Nook and Rising Three Nook, building relationships with the family as well as the child. The team includes qualified teachers, early years practitioners, leaders and support staff. Home Learning Challenges through Tapestry give families activities to try together beyond the nursery day.
At the June 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that adult support helped children settle quickly, children with SEND participated alongside their peers, and safeguarding was effective. Parents valued regular contact and involvement in their children's support. Language support needs consistency. Some adults needed further training to help younger children extend their vocabulary, so the quality of adult conversation was an important improvement priority.
SEND support follows Assess, Plan, Do, Review, with families involved in agreeing and reviewing help. The Cherry Garden SEND Assessment Framework informs adaptations, including visual communication support and activities matched to individual learning needs. Speech and language therapists and North Tyneside's Early Years Inclusion Service are among the partners involved where appropriate.
Emotion Coaching and co-regulation help children understand feelings with adult support. Optional hot lunches and teatime meals accommodate dietary requirements, allowing families to choose meal provision alongside funded education.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline; choosing this nursery should remain a decision about early education rather than an assurance of a later school place.
Transitions to the next stage are planned as part of SEND support, with progress reviewed and families involved. That continuity concerns children's learning and care, separately from admission decisions.
The school contact hours are Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 5:30pm. These are opening hours rather than a nursery session timetable. The Wraparound Nook provides care on days when children do not attend their nursery sessions, with construction, imaginative play, outdoor activity and quiet spaces to rest. Holiday provision also runs during non-term time, supporting families whose childcare needs extend beyond the school calendar.
Optional extras. Meals, breakfast or teatime extensions where applicable, and some additional enrichment can carry charges. These choices are optional and explained beforehand. Contact the school office for current charges and available options, or use the contact form to make an enquiry. The telephone number is 0191 257 4441.
The nursery school serves children aged two to four. The Nest is the separate birth-to-two provision.
Children investigate their interests through play and projects, with stories, songs, sensory activities and outdoor learning. Named opportunities include Forest School, Beach School and the Mud Kitchen.
Staff use Assess, Plan, Do, Review and the Cherry Garden SEND Assessment Framework to plan adaptations with families. Specialist professionals can contribute where appropriate.
Yes. The Wraparound Nook provides care on days without nursery sessions, and extended provision covers school holidays. Some additional services carry optional charges.
No. Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families need to apply separately through the normal Reception admissions process.
