SS Peter and Paul Nursery, South Shields

Play shaped by children’s interests gives this nursery its character. At SS Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School in South Shields, children explore indoors and outside, with topics responding to what interests them. Nursery forms part of the school’s early years provision, within a Catholic school community on Olive Street.

There are 15-hour and 30-hour places, with morning and afternoon sessions. That gives families two different amounts of nursery time to consider, while keeping learning within the school’s early years curriculum.

Children’s interests help shape their play and learning in both the indoor and outdoor spaces. The approach gives their curiosity a place in the curriculum: topics can grow from what children want to explore, rather than every activity starting with an adult’s choice.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines learning about relationships and emotions with movement, communication and early academic skills. Here, its curriculum also includes creative expression and understanding the world. For parents, that means nursery learning extends beyond letters and numbers to how children communicate, develop physically and relate to others.

Sounds-Write provides the phonics approach. Nursery children begin by recognising and identifying sounds; they move into its Initial Code when they show readiness. The starting point is listening, with the next step responding to the child’s development.

In March 2024, Ofsted found that early years learning gave speech and language substantial attention, alongside reading, writing and mathematics within everyday activities, helping children whose development was below age expectations catch up. Familiar stories and nursery rhymes prompted children to join in through movements and repeated passages. These are concrete ways to practise language through participation.

The nursery team aims to help new children build confidence as members of the school. For children needing additional support, the school works with families and professionals including speech and language therapists, educational psychologists and health visitors. Individual education plans are agreed with parents and reviewed together, giving families a role in deciding and revisiting support.

School catering comes from Chadwick’s Kitchen. Meals use fresh ingredients, and medical diets are arranged with parents. Packed lunches are permitted under a rule excluding nuts and products containing them. These school arrangements give families practical dietary requirements to plan around.

Attending nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through South Tyneside Council’s primary admissions portal. For September 2027 entry, the deadline is 4:30pm on Friday 15 January 2027. Keep that application separate from arranging nursery hours.

After a school place is offered, families are contacted about induction days and information covering routines, uniform and preparations for starting school. This supports the move into school; it is separate from the allocation of places.

Morning nursery runs from 8:45am to 11:45am; the afternoon session runs from 12:15pm to 3:15pm. Nursery enquiries go through the school office on 0191 455 2862 or office@sspeterpaul.co.uk. Visits can also be arranged through the office.

Rise & Shine Breakfast Club includes nursery children and runs free of charge from 8:15am to 8:45am. Its gates close at 8:30am, and children must be handed to a staff member at the hall door for registration. That handover rule matters when planning the morning journey.