Westoe Crown Primary School Nursery

Morning or afternoon, Westoe Crown’s nursery runs on a clear session pattern: 8:45am to 11:45am or 12:30pm to 3:30pm. That gives families two distinct parts of the day to consider when planning childcare. The nursery belongs to Westoe Crown Primary School on Sea Winnings Way in South Shields, close to the coast and on the former Westoe Colliery site.

Nursery teaching sits within the school’s early years provision. During September 2025-July 2026, the nursery team included a teacher, key workers and classroom support staff, with an Early Years Pupil Achievement Leader covering Nursery and Reception. These are different roles within the team, rather than a single staffing category.

Shared books, songs and rhymes characterised nursery learning at the October 2023 inspection. In October 2023, Ofsted found that early years teaching adapted to children’s development, with particular attention to language, communication and physical, emotional and social skills. For parents, this means the early learning focus extends beyond letters: talking, movement and learning to manage feelings matter too.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the curriculum framework. At that inspection, shared books and singing gave children ways to encounter language together, while adults built the foundations for reading. In October 2023, even the youngest children followed established routines and responded promptly to staff directions. This helped keep learning time focused.

The same inspection identified unfinished curriculum work in a small number of the school’s foundation subjects, where the knowledge and concepts to be remembered needed clearer definition. This was a school curriculum concern, rather than a separate nursery judgement.

Key workers formed part of the September 2025-July 2026 nursery staffing structure alongside teaching and classroom support. For children with additional needs, the school’s support arrangements include a qualified teacher acting as SENCO, individual planning and collaboration with outside specialists. Parents are involved in decisions about support and changes to its level, giving families a role in shaping provision.

Visual timetables, spaces with fewer distractions and speech and language support are among the school’s approaches to communication needs. Personal care support can also be provided when needed. These are school support arrangements; provision for an individual child depends on their needs.

Space for additional support. Most school intervention work takes place within classrooms because space for separate support is limited, though some individual or small group work can use a small group room. Families should weigh that classroom-based approach when considering their child’s needs. Disabled toilets and allocated disabled parking are physical features of the school’s accessibility arrangements.

Attending Westoe Crown’s nursery does not guarantee a place in its Reception year. Nursery and Reception admission are separate processes: families must apply again through the normal Reception application route by the applicable deadline. Treat the nursery decision and the Reception application as two distinct steps in planning your child’s education.

The morning session runs from 8:45am until 11:45am; the afternoon session starts at 12:30pm and ends at 3:30pm. Those finish times are important when fitting nursery around work or other collections.

For enquiries, contact the school on 0191 4272160 or email info@westoecrownprimary.co.uk. The school welcomes visits, providing an opportunity to discuss the nursery provision in person.