Foundation Years · Ages 2–5
Every child deserves the best start in life.
At NEAT Academy Trust, Early Years is not a stepping stone — it's where everything begins. We give every child in our care the foundation they need to grow, thrive, and love learning for life.
Authentic early years photography
Children at play · Nursery environments · Staff with children
6
Primary schools with EYFS
2–5
Age range across Nursery & Reception
7
Areas of learning
EEF
Research School partner
Why it matters
The first five years shape everything that follows.
Research is unambiguous: experiences in the earliest years of life have a greater impact on a child's development than any other period. The language children hear, the relationships they build, and the environments they explore in Nursery and Reception lay the foundations for reading, writing, wellbeing, and lifelong learning.
This is why NEAT invests heavily in Early Years — in the quality of our environments, the expertise of our practitioners, and the strength of our relationships with families.
90%
of brain development occurs before age 5
£7
returned for every £1 invested in quality early years
17 mo
typical vocabulary gap at age 5 between highest and lowest socioeconomic groups
GLD
Good Level of Development — the key milestone at the end of Reception
Photography of early years in action
What children learn
Seven areas of learning and development.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework organises children's learning into three Prime Areas — the non-negotiable foundations — and four Specific Areas that build on them. At NEAT, all seven areas are woven into everything we do, every day.
Prime area
Personal, Social & Emotional Development
Building self-confidence, forming relationships, managing feelings, and developing independence. The bedrock of everything else.
Prime area
Communication & Language
Listening, speaking, developing vocabulary, and learning to express ideas. The most powerful predictor of later reading achievement.
Prime area
Physical Development
Gross and fine motor skills, coordination, and healthy habits. Active bodies support active minds.
Specific area
Literacy
A love of stories and books, phonics foundations, and early mark-making that grows into confident reading and writing.
Specific area
Mathematics
Number sense, counting, pattern, shape, and space — through play, stories, and real-world exploration.
Specific area
Understanding the World
Exploring nature, technology, history, and communities — building curiosity and a sense of place.
Specific area
Expressive Arts & Design
Creativity, imagination, music, art, and storytelling — giving children a voice beyond words.
A note for parents: At NEAT, we plan with purpose — but we follow your child's interests. Our practitioners use careful observation to tailor learning to each child. The curriculum is the map; your child leads the journey.
National agenda · Local action
Delivering the government's Best Start in Life vision — in our communities.
The government's Best Start in Life programme sets out five ambitions for every child. NEAT schools are proud to align with and actively deliver against each of them — not because we have to, but because we believe in them.
Early language and communication
Children with strong early language are significantly more likely to thrive at school and beyond. Rich vocabulary, nursery rhymes, stories, and purposeful talk are at the heart of every NEAT classroom.
→ NEAT's approach: daily story time, Nursery Rhyme Week, oracy-first curriculum design
Supporting the home learning environment
Parents are children's first and most important educators. We actively support families with practical guidance, home learning ideas, and strong parent-practitioner partnerships from day one.
→ NEAT's approach: family workshops, stay-and-play sessions, regular learning updates home
Expanding access to childcare
We make funded entitlements straightforward to access, offer flexible hours where possible, and work with local authorities to ensure that cost is never a barrier to quality early education.
→ 15 & 30 hour entitlements, termly intake, direct links to local authority guidance
Preparing children for school
Our transition programme is carefully structured so that moving from Nursery to Reception, and from Reception to Year 1, feels natural, exciting, and safe — not a cliff-edge.
→ Transition visits, 'moving up' sessions, shared reading, Teddy Bears' Picnic events
Developing the early years workforce
As a Newcastle Research School, NEAT brings evidence-informed CPD to our Early Years practitioners. Our staff are skilled, valued, and continuously developing — because brilliant teachers make all the difference.
→ Trust-wide EY CPD, Research School access, peer networks, specialist leadership
Want to know more about how NEAT schools are delivering Best Start in Life in the North East? Read our Early Years strategy or get in touch with our team.
Read our EY strategy →Our approach
What makes NEAT Early Years distinctive.
Quality early education is not an accident. These are the principles that guide everything we do in our Nursery and Reception classrooms across the trust.
01
Play is the work of childhood
We design environments where play is purposeful, joyful, and rich in learning. Continuous provision, both indoors and outdoors, gives children agency over their learning while skilled practitioners extend and deepen it.
02
Every child, known deeply
Our key person approach means every child has a trusted adult who knows them well — their interests, their strengths, and their next steps. Observation and formative assessment inform everything we plan.
03
Language at the centre
We know that vocabulary at age 5 predicts outcomes at 16. That's why we prioritise rich talk, stories, songs, and purposeful conversation in every session — giving children the words they need to think, connect, and communicate.
04
Families as partners
We work hard to build genuine partnerships with parents and carers. You are your child's first educator — and you always will be. We want you to feel welcome, informed, and involved in your child's learning from the very first day.
05
Evidence-informed practice
As a Newcastle Research School, our Early Years practitioners have access to the best available evidence on what works in early childhood education. We don't chase trends — we make decisions based on research.
06
High expectations, without pressure
We hold high aspirations for every child while understanding that children develop at different rates. Progress from individual starting points — not comparison to others — is how we measure success in Early Years.
Age 2–3
Pre-school / Nursery
Settling in, building key relationships, developing language, independence, and social skills through play-based learning.
Age 3–4 / 4–5
Nursery → Reception
A carefully managed transition with school visits, shared activities, and family sessions to make starting school feel safe and exciting.
Age 5
Reception → Year 1
Children leave Reception ready — confident, curious, and equipped with the skills and knowledge to succeed in Key Stage 1 and beyond.
Our schools
Find an Early Years place near you.
Six NEAT primary schools offer Nursery and/or Reception provision across the North East. Each school has its own character and community — all share the same commitment to excellent early years education.
Central Walker CofE Primary
Walker · Newcastle upon Tyne
Nursery
Reception
Visit school →
Tyneview Primary School
Walker · Newcastle upon Tyne
Nursery
Reception
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West Walker Primary School
West Walker · Newcastle upon Tyne
Nursery
Reception
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Walkergate Community School
Walkergate · Newcastle upon Tyne
Nursery
Reception
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St Peter's CofE Primary
Wallsend · North Tyneside
Nursery
Reception
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Whitehouse Primary School
North Shields · North Tyneside
Nursery
Reception
Visit school →
Common questions
Questions from parents & carers.
The most common questions we hear from families considering a NEAT nursery or Reception place.
When can my child start nursery?
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Most NEAT nurseries admit children from the term after their third birthday, with some Pre-school provision for 2-year-olds. We operate a termly intake — so there are three start points across the year (September, January, and April). Contact your local school directly to find out current availability and to register your interest.
Is nursery free? What are the funded hours?
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All 3 and 4-year-olds in England are entitled to 15 hours of free early education per week (38 weeks per year). Many families also qualify for 30 hours depending on working status and income. Some 2-year-olds are also eligible for 15 free hours. Your school can help you check your eligibility and complete the relevant declaration forms with your local council. See individual school pages for their specific hours and any additional charges.
How is nursery different from Reception?
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Nursery (typically ages 3–4) is focused on settling, building relationships, developing language and independence, and exploring the world through play. Reception (ages 4–5) is a statutory school year — children work towards the Early Learning Goals across all seven areas of the EYFS curriculum, with a greater focus on phonics, early reading, and number. Both years use play-based learning as the primary vehicle for teaching and learning.
How will I know how my child is getting on?
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You'll have regular conversations with your child's key person, a parents' evening each term, and updates through our school communications. We also share learning journeys and next steps with you, so you can support your child's learning at home. We actively encourage parents to share what children are doing at home too — it helps us to know your child better.
My child has additional needs — will they be supported?
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Absolutely. NEAT schools have dedicated SENCO support and work closely with local authority services to ensure every child receives the right support. We start by getting to know your child well and work with you to identify needs early. If you have concerns, please speak to the school as soon as possible — early identification and support makes the biggest difference.
How do I apply for a Reception place?
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Reception admissions are coordinated by your local authority (Newcastle City Council or North Tyneside Council depending on the school). Applications typically open in November for the following September intake, with a national offer day in April. Attending our nursery does not automatically guarantee a Reception place — you must apply through the local authority. Visit our individual school Admissions pages for school-specific information and links.
Can I come and visit before my child starts?
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Yes — and we encourage it. All our schools offer visits and open mornings for prospective families. Meeting the team and seeing the environment before your child starts makes a real difference to how settled they feel on their first day. Contact your local school to arrange a visit.
Ready to find out more?
Book a visit to your local NEAT school, or get in touch with our team — we'd love to welcome you.
Find your nearest school →