Hareside Nursery

Hareside nursery is a purpose built unit within Hareside Primary School.  We are very fortunate to have a modern, attractive environment for our children to benefit from. Our nursery caters for up to 52 children with sessions in the morning and the afternoon. Children can join our nursery from the age of 3 and remain until they begin reception year in the September following their fourth birthday.

Our nursery is led and staffed by fully qualified teachers and learning support assistants each of whom lead their own key worker group of up to 13 children.

Leadership of our nursery is by the school’s foundation stage leader who also leads our reception classes. This ensures good continuity across the whole of our early years phase.

 Admission to Nursery

We are delighted to offer free early education to 3 and 4 year olds until they either start reception class in a maintained nursery school or reach compulsory school age.

Nursery Sessions

 Morning sessions - 8.30am to 11.30am

Afternoon sessions - 12.00pm to 3.00pm

Funded Hours Available

Each child is entitled to 15 hours per week of free universal provision during term time

Some families may be entitled to an additional 15 hours extended provision

(known as 30 hours childcare)

Click here to check if you are entitled to the additional 15 hour provision 

If you are not entitled to the additional 15 hours we may be able to offer you additional sessions at a charge.  These would be offered for a whole term and payment would be required for all session including non-attendance. 

Additional non funded Nursery Sessions

Additional morning or afternoon sessions are available for an additional charge. 

These are offered on a termly basis and payment is required for all sessions including non-attendance.

• Additional Nursery Sessions £12.00 (per session), £60 per week

Lunchtime Sessions

Lunchtime sessions - 11.30am to 12.00pm

Lunchtime costs (per session)

• £2.00 for lunch care. These are offered on a termly basis and payment is required for all sessions including non-attendance

• £2.30 for a school dinner. Please book and pay online. 

• Children can bring a packed lunch

 How to Apply

Summer Term 2020

The term starts on Monday 20th April 2020

All children who are 3 years old by 31st March 2020 will be considered for admission from Monday 20th April 2020

Autumn Term 2020

The term starts on Wednesday 2^nd September 2020

All children who are 3 years old by 31st August 2020 will be considered for admission from September 2020

The application form is available below, or can be requested from the school office:

 Nursery Application Form

 Admission Cycle

The admission panel meets each term to consider any applications received and allocate places according to criteria for the next intake as follows

• in May to allocate places for the September intake

• in October to allocate places for the January intake

• in February to allocate places for the April intake

Offer of a place

Once the admission panel has met you will receive a letter advising whether or not a place will be offered to your child.  You will also receive a ‘parental agreement for funding entitlement’ form and a contract for additional fees for lunchtime and additional non funded sessions. Please note that additional fees will apply every day even in the event of non-attendance. 

Once we have your acceptance forms we will send you a welcome pack with all the relevant information.

Nursery Terms and Conditions

Rising 3 year old children

Depending on our nursery numbers and the month in which your child is born we can take children as they turn 3 years old. For example, a child who turns 3 in September could be offered a place at the end of September rather than waiting until the beginning of the next term in January.

Nursery admissions forms can be downloaded from our website or are available at the school office - 01670 712440.

 Admission to Reception

Children are admitted to reception in the September after they turn 4 years old. We have two reception classes with thirty places available in each class.

Information about admissions to reception can be found at www.northumberland.gov.uk/admissions

If you have any queries or would like to arrange a visit to nursery please do not hesitate to contact our school office

The Early Years Curriculum

The Early Years Foundation Stage applies to children from birth to the end of their reception year (age 5) and incorporates children in both the nursery and reception classes. Our early years provision accommodates children from the age of 3 to 5 years.

It is our aim to lay firm foundations for learning. We provide a well-planned and organised play-based day where children participate in adult directed activities, as well as having opportunities to explore and develop their own areas of interest in child initiated activities. The indoors and outdoors environment is organised to support and extend the children’s learning.

There are seven areas of learning and development in the Early Years Foundation Stage.

There are three prime areas which develop quickly in response to relationships and experiences. These run through and support learning in all other areas.

1. Personal, Social and Emotional Development

2. Communication and Language

3. Physical Development

 Then there are four specific areas which include essential skills and knowledge. They grow out of the prime areas and provide important contexts for learning.

• Literacy

• Mathematics

• Understanding the World

• Expressive Arts and Design

None of these areas can be delivered in isolation from the others. They are equally important and depend on each other. All areas are delivered through a balance of adult led and child initiated activities.

The Characteristics of Effective Learning run through and underpin the seven areas of learning and development. They describe learning processes that occur throughout every day activities and experiences. They also support the child to remain an effective and motivated learner. The Characteristics of Effective Learning are:

• Creating and Thinking Critically - Children have and develop their own ideas, making links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things.

• Active Learning - Children keep on trying if they encounter difficulties, and enjoy their achievements.

• Playing and Exploring - Children investigate and experience things, and ‘have a go’.