Welcome to Nursery

We have made some exciting changes to enhance our space and created new opportunities to extend our outstanding provision.

We have extended our Nursery, which from September 2024, will occupy two classrooms. One is in the existing Nursery classroom and the second is in an adjoining room which was formerly our Reception classroom. The classrooms were both purpose built for Early Years Education.

Both rooms will have a qualified teacher, Mrs Patterson and Mrs Lomax, who will work closely together. Mrs Patterson is one of our Early Years Leads and has worked at Montalbo for many years. Before working at Montalbo, Mrs Lomax has worked extensively in Nursery Education. Both teachers will have a Teaching Assistant and an Apprentice TA will work between the two rooms.

Buttercup Class

Mrs Patterson – Class Teacher and EYFS Lead

Miss Nicole – Teaching Assistant

Miss Teasdale – EYFS Apprentice

Daisy Class

Mrs Lomax – Class Teacher

Miss Rudge – Teaching Assistant

Miss Teasdale – EYFS Apprentice

(Mrs Whelan – PPA Teacher for both classes)

View our termly page to find out what we have been up to. You can also view our archived class work on our website.

Nursery Session Times

Breakfast Care: 7.45am – 8.45am

Full Nursery Day: 8.45am – 3.15pm

Morning Session: 8.45am – 11.45am

Nursery Lunchtime: 11.40am – 12.10pm

Afternoon Session: 12.15pm – 3.15pm

Afterschool Care: 3.30pm – 5.30pm

* Wraparound care for nursery pupils takes place in the school hall along with pupils from other classes in the school.

For more information about our Nursery, please click on the link below to view our ‘New Starter Information’ booklet:

Nursery – New Starter Information 2025-2026

If you would like more information about the curriculum the school is following please contact the school.

The prime areas in Nursery are:

Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Physical Development
Communication and Language

The specific areas in Nursery are:

Literacy
Maths
Understanding the World
Expressive Arts and Design

Nursery Places

Children can apply for a Nursery place in the term following their second birthday. Please find an attached application form here. Pupils can start nursery the month after their third birthday.

What funding is my child eligible

Current qualifying criteria for the two-year-old entitlement can be found on the following link:

https://www.durham.gov.uk/playandlearn

Qualifying criteria for the 9 month old to under two year old working family entitlement (from September 2024) and
qualifying criteria for the two-year-old working family entitlement can be found on the following link

https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

Current qualifying criteria for the 3 and 4 year-old extended 30 hours entitlement can be found on the following
link:

https://www.durham.gov.uk/article/18791/30-hours-free-childcare-for-three-and-four-year-olds