Sea View Primary School Nursery Review

Play, exploration and early reading shape the nursery experience at Sea View Primary School. The nursery belongs to the school's early years phase at Horsley Hill Community Campus in South Shields, a campus that also includes a children's centre and a special school. Its curriculum combines practical exploration with focused activities led by adults.

In June 2024, Ofsted judged the school's early years provision Good. That judgement covers the early years phase within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Indoor and outdoor experiences form part of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum. For parents, this means learning extends beyond letters and numbers: communication, physical development and managing feelings and relationships sit alongside literacy, mathematics, understanding the world and creative expression. Play has a teaching purpose.

Topics grow from books, with the learning environment adapted to children's interests and needs. Imaginative play and practical investigation are combined with focused adult teaching; regular assessments help staff plan the next steps. Discovery RE is used from Nursery onwards, introducing questions about religion and giving children opportunities to discuss their ideas. The balance is between exploration and purposeful teaching, rather than a session made up solely of formal lessons.

There are strengths and a clear teaching concern to weigh together. In June 2024, children in early years picked up the letter knowledge and sounds needed for beginning reading quickly, and the resources and organisation supported curiosity and independence. However, the activities children could choose and adults' contributions to their play were inconsistent. Some opportunities to strengthen basic knowledge and develop children's thinking were missed. For families, the important distinction is between having plenty to explore and getting consistently purposeful teaching through that exploration.

Workshops and home-school books connect families with early years learning, explaining what children are being taught and how adults teach it. That gives parents a practical link between activities in the nursery and conversations at home.

When staff identify special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), parents are invited to discuss concerns, support and individual targets. Families then take part in regular target reviews. Specialist involvement can include Speech Therapy, Educational Psychology and Occupational Therapy; referrals are discussed with parents and require their consent. This makes parents participants in decisions about additional support.

Food restrictions. Sea View excludes nuts, peas, oranges and legumes because some children have severe airborne allergies. These restrictions apply to snacks and packed lunches, so families need to take them into account when preparing food.

Attending Sea View's nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal school admissions process; South Tyneside Council is the route for school admissions. Nursery attendance and securing a school place are separate decisions. Keep the Reception application in your planning even if your child already attends the nursery.

Morning sessions run from 8:30 am to 11:30 am; afternoon sessions run from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm. Sea View offers 15 and 30-hour options. The two session windows give families concrete times around which to organise their day.

For nursery enquiries, contact the school on 0191 4274343 or email info@seaview.s-tyneside.sch.uk. Sea View is on Norham Avenue North, within Horsley Hill Community Campus, South Shields, NE34 7TD.