2 · 3 · 4-year-olds · funded places

Where your child's story at school starts.

Choosing a nursery is a big decision. At Walkergate,  skilled Early Years staff will give your child a nurturing and exciting experience, enabling them to learn through play and during activities, including weekly forest school sessions in our own incredible on-site woods.

A look inside Walkergate Community School Nursery

Apply for a Nursery Place
Book a visit
Ages2 to 4 years old
Funded hours15 or 30 hrs/week
IntakeTermly
Extra hours£36 per session

About Our Nursery

Play-based learning, rooted in our own outdoor space.

Our Nursery provision is firmly rooted in the Early Years curriculum, in a warm and welcoming environment where children grow and thrive. We believe in the power of play-based learning: exploring, discovering, and building essential skills in a fun, supportive setting.

Our dedicated, experienced team is committed to making your child’s early educational journey joyful. Well-equipped play areas and resource-rich classrooms create a nurturing atmosphere that feels like a home away from home.

What makes us different
Our own woods, used every week.
Few nursery settings have this: Walkergate has its own on-site woods, and children have weekly forest school sessions. Den building, exploring the bug hotel, and cooking treats over the campfire, alongside daily literacy and maths using Read Write Inc for phonics, and creative and sensory play across painting, clay, water, sand and role play.
Children learning in the Walkergate Nursery
Our Nursery environment
Indoor and outdoor learning spaces, our own woods, and resource-rich classrooms designed around play-based exploration.

Assistant Headteacher, Mrs F Waterhouse

“The early years are the most important years of a child’s life, we build foundations that nurture the children to be happy, confident learners. We give the children purposeful experiences and help them to achieve their own unique potential one step at a time“

Join Us

Two ways to join our Nursery.

Funding depends on your child’s age. Here’s what’s available and how it works.

2-year-olds
Funded 2s place
15 or 30 funded hours a week for eligible 2-year-olds, in their own dedicated area with skilled staff. Apply directly with the school.
Extra hours: £36 per session for any additional nursery hours beyond your funded allowance.
3 & 4-year-olds
15 or 30 hour place
All 3 and 4-year-olds are entitled to 15 funded hours a week. Many families are eligible for 30. Places have a termly intake.
Please note: a packed lunch is required for children attending 30-hour Nursery places.

A typical Week

What your child's week looks like.

Nursery children exploring the Walkergate woods
Forest school
Weekly sessions in our own woods. Den building, bug hunting, campfire cooking.
Children taking part in an early phonics and maths activity
Phonics & early maths
Daily literacy and number through Read Write Inc and hands-on activities.
Nursery children enjoying creative and sensory play
Creative & sensory play
Painting, clay and playdough, water and sand play, imaginative role play.
Nursery children enjoying story time and small world play
Story & small world
Daily story time and small world play, building language and social skills.

Joining Us

How to apply for a Nursery place.

Unlike Reception, Nursery applications come directly to us rather than to the local authority.

1
Contact the school
Get in touch with our office to register your interest and ask about our next intake date. Places are offered termly.
2
Check your funding
Confirm your eligibility for 2-year-old funding or 15/30-hour places via Newcastle City Council's parent declaration form.
3
Book a visit
Come and see the Nursery in action, meet the team, and get any questions answered before your child starts.
4
Settling-in sessions
Before your child's start date, we arrange settling-in visits so the transition feels gentle and familiar.
Funded hours info
Complete Newcastle City Council's parent declaration form to confirm your funded hours eligibility.
Newcastle City Council website →
Our admissions policy
Nursery places are allocated according to our Nursery Admissions Policy. Read the full policy for details.
Read our admissions policy →
Got a question?
Our office team are happy to talk you through funded hours, our termly intake, or arrange a visit.
Contact us →
Apply for a place
Find out more
Come and see our Nursery.
The best way to know if Walkergate Community School is right for your family is to visit. Meet the team, see the woods, and get your questions answered.
Book a visit → Contact Us