Little Acorns Nursery at Glendale Primary School

Racing-car models and muddy Forest School play give Little Acorns its character: practical activities sit alongside the first steps towards school life. This is the nursery at Glendale Primary School, previously Wooler First School, in Wooler. Children can join aged two, three or four, and the nursery forms part of the school's early-years provision alongside Oak Class, its Reception class.

The nursery says children learn best through play. That belief has a concrete expression here, with a play area for making models and Forest School for outdoor exploration.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) shapes the sessions. Staff plan experiences across seven learning areas, bringing together movement, communication and personal development with early mathematics, literacy, creative work and understanding the world. For parents, that means learning extends beyond letters and numbers: physical skills and relationships are part of the curriculum too.

Making a racing-car model in the play area and splashing in Forest School mud are examples of the activities children can undertake. They give the curriculum a practical dimension, with opportunities to create and explore in different surroundings.

At the November 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that early-years learning emphasised confidence and independence, with practical experiences helping children persist with challenges. This finding concerns the school's early years, rather than a separate nursery judgement.

Settling begins before the first session. Parents and children are invited to visit together, meet staff and ask questions; a home visit also helps the team get to know the family. Once a child starts, parents complete an All about me form with their keyworker. That gives the team information to use when planning the child's care and learning.

Lunch is part of the afternoon session, shared with other children in the Little Acorns room. Families can send a packed lunch or choose a charged school lunch made by the kitchen team. The choice lets parents decide which arrangement suits their child.

Childcare staff and an administrative assistant form the nursery team. Across the school, visitors sign in at the office and may be asked for identification. Welfare concerns are discussed with parents first unless doing so could work against the child's welfare.

Attending Little Acorns does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the applicable deadline. The application route is Northumberland County Council's school admissions team; the school cannot process admission information on a family's behalf.

Keep the nursery decision and the Reception application separate. Being part of the school's early-years provision is an educational arrangement, not a promise of admission.

Sessions run Monday to Friday: mornings are 9am to noon, afternoons noon to 3pm. Families can combine both sessions for a 9am to 3pm day. Breakfast club runs from 8am to 9am, with after-school provision from 3pm to 5pm, ending at 4pm on Fridays. That earlier Friday finish matters when arranging collection.

Places are offered to children eligible for funding at age two and at ages three and four. Additional paid sessions depend on space being available. Contact the school for current charges. For three- and four-year-olds, the nursery requests school colours or a school sweatshirt.

Nursery enquiries can be emailed to preschool@woolerandglendale.co.uk.