About Our Nursery

Our school’s Nursery unit opened in 2001 as a dual-day setting, offering morning and afternoon sessions. Starting in September 2026, we will move to full-time provision for 26 children, which includes the option of a hot midday meal served by our school canteen.

Facilities

Our purpose-built Nursery is a bright and welcoming space, thoughtfully designed to spark curiosity and nurture independence. Careful consideration is given to the arrangement of play areas and resources to invite exploration, inspire creativity and sustain children’s engagement for extended periods. The building comprises a well-equipped classroom with accessible resources, a cosy, carpeted quiet room, children’s toilets, cloakroom area, storage and laundry facilities and an office/staff-parent meeting room.

Our staff view outdoor learning as very much an extension of the learning taking place indoors. We are very fortunate to have an extensive outdoor learning space that offers a rich variety of opportunities for play, movement and discovery. Children can enjoy a large tarmacked area, perfect for whizzing around on wheeled toys. There is also a safety-surfaced zone with static and movable climbing equipment that both supports and challenges physical development. Creative zones throughout the space invite opportunities for role & imaginative play, music and sound exploration, art & design, mark-making and large-scale construction with loose parts. Our mud kitchen and generous-sized covered sandpit offer rich sensory experiences using natural materials. A growing garden and a well-stocked ‘discovery’ shed also encourage children to investigate and deepen their understanding of the world around them.

Daily Routine & Enrichment

Our daily routine is structured to provide children with extended periods of indoor and outdoor learning. During these times, our experienced staff engage meaningfully with children in ways that ensure a balance between child-led and adult-supported learning, such as introducing and teaching specific skills. We also operate a staggered snack time, the children deciding when they want to eat. This approach helps to build self-confidence and autonomy, develop a range of language and communication skills and foster positive relationships with both peers and adults.   

Whilst each day at Nursery is different and allows for flexibility, we recognise the importance of a predictable routine to ensure children’s emotional security and well-being. A typical day includes:

• Arrival & Self-Registration
• Welcome Time
• Indoor Learning (alongside snack)
• Tidy-up time
• Whole class activities (story-time, singing/musical activities, Circle Time, Show & Tell etc)
• A hot midday meal
• Outdoor Learning (including large physical play)

To further enrich learning and connect children with their community, we offer a variety of educational outings and welcome special visitors throughout the year. These include:

• Monthly visits to Whitehead Library
• Trips to Foster’s Fruit & Flower shop and Tweedie Pies Bakery
• A special outing (e.g. Streamvale Open Farm, Whitehead Railway Museum)
• Visits from interactive animal education organisations, such as Wee Critters
• Visits from community services such as the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service and PSNI community officers

Ethos

In Whitehead Nursery Unit, we work in partnership with parents, carers and other outside agencies to foster a welcoming, safe and stimulating environment for the children. Through their play and other learning opportunities, children are encouraged to be curious, experiment with ideas, explore and discover. In doing so, they can build progressively on their knowledge, understanding and skills in all areas of development, achieve their full potential and acquire a lifelong love of learning.

Through all activities, both planned and spontaneous, the staff promote children’s communication skills with adults and their peers in a variety of social contexts. Small and large group play is key to raising awareness of diversity in all its forms and in developing respect for themselves and others. All opportunities are used to encourage independence, taking risks, building emotional resilience and the ability to manage their behaviour in different situations.

The Nursery, as part of Whitehead Primary School, is involved as far as possible in all aspects of school life. We attend special assemblies and events such as fundraising days and make regular use of the PE hall and school grounds e.g. the orchard and Gruffalo trail. This helps the children become familiar with the rest of the school environment and staff, ensuring continuity for for the significant number of children who transition to Year 1.