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Nursery at Sedgefield 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
A mud kitchen, hollow-block constructions and visits to The Woodlands give Sedgefield Primary’s nursery a practical, playful character. This is the school’s own provision on Rectory Row, with Nursery and Reception sharing a large Early Years Area and an outdoor classroom. Children have space to investigate as well as somewhere familiar to begin school life.
Entry normally starts in the term following a child’s third birthday. Where space permits, children can join from their third birthday through paid sessions before funding begins. That distinction matters for families planning an earlier start.
Play shapes the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) here. Children choose some activities themselves, while adults lead others; half-term topics provide a starting point, with children’s interests also influencing learning. In parent terms, this brings talking, movement and relationships together with early reading, number work, creativity and discovery. Learning to listen, share materials and concentrate is part of the day too.
Role-play spaces support imaginative activity. Outside, children explore moving water, dig and use the mud kitchen, with wellies and aprons part of those messy activities. Tuff Spots hold different materials, and hollow blocks give children resources for construction. Two canopies shelter outdoor resources from rain, making the outside classroom usable across different weather conditions. Visits to The Woodlands extend that outdoor experience.
Ofsted’s April 2023 inspection found that pre-school children enjoyed rhyme-making through silly soup, with planned opportunities to practise numbers and writing. Early-years children also concentrated and learnt to cooperate. Curriculum sequencing. In April 2023, links between pre-school learning and Year 1 foundation subjects still needed development, including the vocabulary children should learn. Families should weigh that curriculum concern alongside the concrete examples of play and practice.
Settling begins before the first regular day. Nursery starters can meet their teacher and explore their classroom through advance visits. An information event gives parents time to ask questions, and children and parents can try lunch at school. Children with additional needs can receive extra transition visits, with parents involved in discussing what will help.
Home/school books connect nursery activities with family life: staff send activities home, and parents can share achievements and experiences. For special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the school uses Assess, Plan, Do, Review and individual Pupil Support Plans. These identify targets, the support to be provided and when progress will be reviewed; parents receive a copy. This gives discussions about support a concrete reference point.
Chartwells (North Eats) provides school meals, with nursery lunch service beginning at 11.45am. Meals are charged only when taken. Diagnosed allergies or intolerances can be accommodated through a special menu informed by medical advice, so parents should flag dietary requirements early. Changes to school-lunch arrangements require at least two weeks’ notice.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place and does not confer priority under the listed admission criteria. Families must make a separate application through Durham County Council at www.durham.gov.uk/schooladmissions, by the middle of January. The listed priorities concern looked-after status, exceptional medical circumstances, siblings and distance. Familiarity with the school is separate from allocation of a place.
The summer induction programme combines liaison with pre-school settings and morning or afternoon visits. Additional transition arrangements can be made for children who need them. The shared Early Years Area also provides continuity of surroundings, while the application remains a separate parental task.
Nursery’s day runs from 8.45am to 3.15pm. The school describes 15 funded hours, with a further 15 for eligible working families and an entitlement-code application process. Contact the office for help with that process and to apply for nursery; expressions of interest can be made before a child turns three.
Sedgefield Fun Club extends care from 7.30am to 6pm across 51 weeks. Its purpose-built building stands on the school yard, with nursery children cared for downstairs. Breakfast precedes the handover to school staff; after collection, children have a light snack and activities or their own games. Some of the 30-hour entitlement can be used there. Contact the club directly to book, and refer to the school for current nursery and meal charges.
The usual start is the term after their third birthday. If there is space, paid sessions can begin from their third birthday before funding starts.
Activities include water investigations, digging, mud-kitchen play and building with hollow blocks. The Early Years provision also visits The Woodlands.
No. The listed criteria do not give priority for nursery attendance, and a place is not guaranteed. Apply separately through Durham County Council by the middle of January.
Yes. Chartwells (North Eats) supplies meals, charged only when taken. Special menus can accommodate diagnosed allergies or intolerances using medical advice.
Sedgefield Fun Club provides care from 7.30am to 6pm, 51 weeks a year, including holidays. Nursery children use its downstairs space; contact the club directly to book.
