Highfield Community Primary School Nursery

Plan, Do, Review gives play a clear rhythm at Highfield: children discuss an idea, try it out and then talk through what happened. Choice has a place in the day. So does reflection.

The nursery serves three- and four-year-olds within Highfield Community Primary School on Whinfield Way, Rowlands Gill. It forms part of the school's early years provision, with morning and afternoon sessions. For families seeking a session-based start to school life, that is the practical shape of the offer.

Children's interests help shape the learning. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines language, physical development and social skills with early mathematics, literacy, creativity and understanding the world. Activities include play chosen by children, experiences guided by adults and time together in groups. Staff observe learning and use those observations to decide what to introduce next.

Each morning, Plan, Do, Review starts with a small-group conversation about possible activities. Children then have 60–90 minutes to explore their plans, with adults adjusting classroom resources and asking questions along the way. A review lasting 10–15 minutes gives them time to recall their discoveries and consider another approach. This makes talking about learning part of the routine, rather than leaving the activity at the making or playing stage.

Early reading starts with listening. Nursery children play games involving differences between sounds through Phase 1 and Little Wandle Foundation for Phonics. Stories are read every day, and daily nursery rhymes invite children to sing and join in. The library bus adds a physical place for choosing books: children visit weekly to borrow one.

Making is part of early years provision too. Children investigate materials, choose tools and explain their decisions as they construct. Outdoors, EYFS children can join Forest School with trained practitioners. The grounds include a dedicated Forest School area and wooden play equipment; shelter building and art using natural materials are among the activities described. These give exploration a setting beyond the classroom.

Communication runs through Arbor, which handles school messages, emails and payments. The early years class page also directs families to Facebook for learning updates, giving parents another way to follow activities.

For additional needs, families can arrange a discussion with the SEND co-ordinator by emailing or telephoning the school office. Gateshead SENDIASS and the Gateshead Local Offer are among the support routes linked by the school. There is a direct starting point for discussing a child's needs.

Foundation Stage children receive fruit at break time. School meals are cooked on site, with a daily vegetarian option, jacket potatoes and sandwiches; meals and packed lunches are eaten in the hall. These are school meal arrangements, rather than a promise that either nursery session includes lunch.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process. Highfield's admissions route is Gateshead Council, with places allocated under the local authority's admissions policy. Treat choosing a nursery session and applying for Reception as separate decisions.

Morning nursery runs from 9:00am to noon, Monday to Friday; afternoons run from 12:30pm to 3:30pm on the same days. Each pattern totals 15 hours a week. Those distinct sessions give families a clear timetable for planning collection.

The school's uniform changed in September 2026 to clothing suited to physical activity. Yellow tops, navy layers and bottoms, and trainers make up the core outfit. Plain clothing is accepted, so school logos are optional; sports branding is excluded.

For nursery enquiries, contact the school office on 01207 549882 or email highfieldprimary@hcps.org.uk.