Riverbank Nursery at Teesside High School

Forest School experiences and a riverside setting give Riverbank Nursery its character. This is Teesside High School’s own nursery in Eaglescliffe, welcoming children from six months to four years within the school’s Prep setting. Outdoor discovery is part of the provision, giving children opportunities to explore nature alongside their early learning.

Riverbank opened in April 2026, extending the school’s provision to younger children. The distinction matters when reading inspection findings: the ISI inspection of 7 to 9 May 2025 covered the school’s early years before Riverbank opened. Those findings describe the provision at that time.

Riverbank Roots gives the curriculum a recognisable focus: kindness and resilience, contact with nature, healthy habits, enjoyment of stories and care for the environment. These aims connect learning with everyday behaviour, from developing empathy to understanding how children’s actions affect the world around them.

The curriculum covers the seven learning areas associated with the early years foundation stage (EYFS). In parent terms, that means developing movement, relationships and speech alongside early reading, number skills, creativity and understanding the world. Riverbank uses its own curriculum, drawing from several early years philosophies rather than naming a single method.

Play and exploration shape the learning. Books and storytelling support language development, while outdoor learning and Forest School experiences bring the riverside surroundings into the day. Active play and routines also support children’s understanding of health and self-care. The emphasis is on development at each child’s pace, so learning encompasses emotional and physical skills as well as literacy and mathematics.

A key person provides a consistent point of care. The school’s nursery pastoral arrangements identify the class teacher as the key person, linking responsibility for individual needs with a familiar adult. Riverbank also places partnership with parents within its curriculum approach, making families part of decisions about their children.

In May 2025, the early years environment helped children feel settled and ready to learn; key person arrangements and staff training supported emotional needs, including individual support where needed. At that time, every early years staff member had paediatric first-aid training. These are useful historical findings, with their timing kept distinct from Riverbank’s opening.

The deputy nursery manager’s qualifications include a Cambridge University degree in Geography and Primary Education, with experience coordinating EYFS. Meals come from the school’s catering team. For children attending on an unfunded basis, meals, snacks, drinks and consumables are included; funded sessions carry a separate charge for meals and snacks.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Confirm Reception progression requirements directly with the school before assuming a nursery booking secures the next stage. Teesside High is an independent school, and its admissions route includes a visit and consultation with the admissions team.

Full days run from 8.00am to 6.00pm, with an early start available from 7.30am. Families book at least two full days, choosing a regular pattern; full-time applicants receive priority for nursery places. Additional bookings depend on availability. Changes to the regular arrangement require written notice to the nursery manager at least one month ahead.

Eligible families can use the 30-hour funded entitlement, stretched over 50 weeks as 22.8 hours each week. A government funding code must be supplied. The arrangement covers two full days and partly funds a third; further days attract the normal unfunded charge. Tax-Free Childcare payments are accepted.

Collection and charges. Collection after 6.00pm incurs a charge. Ask the school for current charges when choosing your booking pattern. To enquire or arrange a tour, register through the nursery’s funding page to receive an invitation to a planned visit.