Battle Hill Primary School Nursery Review

Rhythm, rhyme and recipe-following give Battle Hill’s nursery a clear emphasis on listening and talking. This is nursery provision within Battle Hill Primary School in Wallsend, with a nursery teacher working within the early years team. Language is a thread running through the learning, rather than an activity confined to phonics.

Alongside the nursery, Bluebells at Battle Hill provides younger children’s care: Blossoms takes babies from 9 months+, Buttercups caters for rising 2-year-olds, and Butterflies covers ages 2–3. Families should distinguish these named groups when making an enquiry.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines learning about relationships, communication and movement with early maths, literacy, creativity and understanding the world. Activities draw on children’s starting points and interests, with both adult-directed learning and choices made by children. The intention is to give children room to explore while teachers plan their next steps.

Indoor and outdoor learning spaces both form part of the provision. Play is intended to encourage independence, curiosity and questions. This makes the outdoor environment part of learning rather than simply a break from it.

Early phonics starts with listening: children distinguish sounds made by instruments and their surroundings, explore vocal sounds, and practise rhythm, rhyme and body percussion. They also begin joining spoken sounds into words and separating words into sounds. The Over and Over Programme supports this work through speaking and listening activities. These are foundations for reading, with an emphasis on hearing and discussing sounds.

Big Chef Little Chef brings language into practical preschool activity. Following a recipe involves listening to instructions, talking and encountering new vocabulary, giving words an immediate purpose. Together, these activities make communication a concrete part of what children do.

Relationships with families are an explicit early years priority. Daily conversations and regular parent meetings keep families involved in children’s development. Paper records and online learning journals capture observations and achievements; families can also contribute news from home through the online journals. That gives parents a way to add context beyond the nursery session.

For additional needs, a SENDCo covers early years through Year 1 and can meet parents to discuss concerns. The school aims to recognise support needs early, works with families, and draws on support staff from within and outside the school. For a parent concerned about development, there is a defined role to approach.

Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. Choosing nursery care and securing a school place are separate decisions; attendance should not be treated as an assurance of admission.

Bluebells operates during term time between 7.30am and 5.30pm. These hours relate to Bluebells provision. Its waiting-list and information enquiries go through the main school office, on 0191 6071149 or office@battlehillps.org.uk. The same office is the contact for general school enquiries. Refer to the school for current charges.