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Nursery at King Street Primary 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Welly Wednesdays give King Street’s nursery a clear outdoor thread: stories, exploration and a warm campfire snack form part of its Forest School sessions. This is the school’s own nursery provision in Spennymoor, with Little Buds for two-year-olds and Little Acorns for three-year-olds within its Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
Early years provision was graded Good at the Ofsted inspection on 31 January and 1 February 2024. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery.
Forest School has a recognisable rhythm. A song opens the session, a story introduces the exploration, and something warm from the campfire comes before the closing song. For a young child, that gives an outdoor session a beginning and ending as well as time to investigate. The pre-school sessions are called Welly Wednesdays.
Children take part weekly, with a qualified Forest School member of staff leading and their key person accompanying them. Learning takes place on the school grounds and beyond. Changing seasons and safe tool use are part of the experience, bringing nature and practical activity into the nursery week. The campfire is a concrete feature of these sessions, rather than outdoor learning being only an aspiration.
Within the EYFS, learning is arranged in steps that connect across subjects. In January and February 2024, this sequencing was an early-years-specific inspection finding. In plain parent terms, new learning builds on what children have already encountered. King Street also makes language development a curriculum priority, providing opportunities for children to talk and discuss. Alongside the outdoor sessions, this gives parents two clear threads to the learning: practical exploration and communication.
A familiar adult accompanies children into Forest School: their key person goes with them. That links the outdoor experience to an existing care relationship. Routines also matter. In January and February 2024, children were learning expectations from the early years onwards that helped them stay safe and feel happy at school.
For children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), support follows the EYFS with adaptations to individual needs. Parents can raise concerns with any staff member; the SEND coordinator then works with the family and teacher to identify strengths, difficulties and next steps. A Short Note can record those initial actions, with review within the school term.
Where a SEND Support Plan is needed, reviews take place at least three times a year, on a termly basis. Parent views and staff observations contribute to those reviews. This gives families a recurring opportunity to discuss whether support needs adjusting, rather than treating the initial plan as fixed.
Reception requires a separate application. Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply again through Durham County Council’s normal admissions process by the applicable deadline. Nursery enquiries go directly to King Street; Reception admissions are handled by the council. Keep those two processes distinct when planning your child’s next step.
For nursery enquiries, contact King Street directly on 01388 816 078. The school is on High Grange Road, Spennymoor, DL16 6RA.
Little Buds is the two-year-old provision and Little Acorns is the three-year-old provision.
Yes. Children have weekly Forest School sessions led by a qualified member of staff, accompanied by their key person. The pre-school sessions are called Welly Wednesdays.
A song and story lead into exploration. Children learn about seasonal changes and safe tool use, then finish with warm campfire food and a closing song.
Parents can speak to any staff member. The SEND coordinator works with parents and teachers to agree next steps, and SEND Support Plans are reviewed at least three times a year.
No. Reception requires a separate application through Durham County Council’s normal admissions process.
