Marine Park First School Nursery

Two three-hour sessions give Marine Park’s nursery a clear shape: a morning group and an afternoon group, with wraparound provision alongside them. This is the school’s own nursery on Park Road in Whitley Bay. Children are eligible to start in September after their third birthday.

Separate staffing teams cover morning nursery with afternoon wraparound, and afternoon nursery with morning wraparound. That distinction matters for families choosing between a shorter session and additional care. Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good at its inspection on 10 and 11 May 2022; this was an early years judgement within the school inspection.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the curriculum framework. In parent language, the planning sets out what children should learn and practise, with activities giving them opportunities to develop that knowledge. In May 2022, early years planning had clear ambitions across the curriculum, and adults helped children develop their understanding through conversation.

Shipbuilding during STEM week gives a concrete example. Children made ships, then investigated whether they stayed afloat or sank. Adults introduced vocabulary, including cargo, to extend the learning. The activity linked making, testing and language: children could explore an idea practically and learn words to explain it. At that time, the indoor learning space had a thoughtful layout and plentiful resources.

Outdoor learning. In May 2022, outdoor resources and activities were too restricted to support learning across all seven curriculum areas, limiting children’s progress. The improvement required was broader outdoor provision that matched the curriculum’s ambitions. For families, the outdoor learning area deserves attention alongside the indoor space.

The nursery’s parent resources include information sheets for each half term of 2025–26 and a nursery presentation for 2026–27. These provide a starting point for understanding the curriculum and discussing learning with staff. Practical family resources also include The Potty Training Guide and The Children’s Toothbrushing Guide, connecting nursery-age learning with everyday care at home.

For children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), the school uses the Assess, Plan, Do, Review Cycle. Its approach brings together assessment and contributions from families and specialist professionals, so support can respond to the individual child. Parents can contact the SENCo through the school office. Across the school, Thrive and Nurture approaches are used in classroom practice, and families are involved in planning additional wellbeing support.

A nursery place does not guarantee admission to Marine Park’s Reception. Families must make a separate application through North Tyneside Admissions, using the local authority website and meeting the normal application deadline. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as two separate decisions. An offer for nursery is not an offer for the following school stage.

Morning nursery runs from 8.45am to 11.45am; afternoon nursery runs from 12.45pm to 3.45pm. Each pattern is listed as 15 hours. The nursery also advertises 30-hour places and wraparound provision, giving families another option alongside the shorter sessions.

Nursery applications go directly to the school. For enquiries, email info@marineparkfirst.org.uk or telephone 0191 2534343. Visits can be arranged by contacting the school, allowing families to see the learning spaces before deciding.