NCEA The Nest

A home away from home

A little birdie told us, there’s space for your little ones!

NCEA Trust has announced the opening of the new childcare provision The Nest in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, at Grace Darling Primary School Campus. Originally, The Nest was exclusively for staff only at Robert Stephenson Campus (NCEA Bishop’s Primary School). However, due to the high and growing demand of childcare in the area, this service is now available to the general public, term-time only at both Newbiggin and Ashington.

The Nest is very nurturing, catering for the needs of our youngest children and is often described as a ‘home away from home’. Staff make great use of the outdoor space on a daily basis and children get to find enjoyment in experiencing all weathers through this provision. There is a sensory area which has beautiful lights, colours, textures and sounds – along with a calm area for children who need it. Staff are highly experienced in varying SEND needs, with staff specialising in the age group of babies – 3 years old.

Now offering full and part-time places to babies and toddlers from 9 months to 3 years. Working families may be eligible for 15 hours free childcare for the 9months – 3yrs age group, depending upon household income. Please check the government childcare choices website for eligibility.

Although 30 hours free childcare is currently available for those who are eligible with children aged 3-4, by September 2025 this will hopefully become available for working families with children under the age of 5, according to government plans.

What do Ofsted think?

A summary of the most recent comments regarding The Nest Provision at Robert Stephenson Campus;

There is a lovely, calm atmosphere in the Nursery led by an inspirational and experienced leadership team via a well thought-out Early Years Foundation stage curriculum, which instils the love of learning into children early into their development.

The staff are very attentive, kind, gentle and nurturing. Staff are passionate about promoting emotional wellbeing and nurturing the children to become confident and independent. They have close bonds with the children and join in with play, ensuring that everyone is included. Introducing new words during play through the use of repetition accelerates the expansion of the children’s vocabulary and imagination. Story of the week is an exciting way to embed the love of reading into the children, encouraging them to recall the story and tell it in their own way. Numbers are used in everyday activities, such as number walls, counting and encouraging the use of size language.

Regular assessments of each child’s and staff’s development are carried out to ensure that high-quality education is provided consistently, tailored to each individual’s needs. Feedback from parents is very complimentary, with one parent claiming the nursery is “A home away from home.” To read the full Ofsted Report, please click the link https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50232011

Partnership with Parents

The Nest have a strong partnership with parents and nurturing this partnership is one of our main priorities. Involving parents in every step of their child’s development is done easily through the use of Tapestry, an online learning journal. This helps to reassure parents about what their child is doing and learning.

When talking about The Nest at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, one parent stated;

“The staff are amazing, I can’t think of a better place for my child”.

If your child is with The Nest between the ages of 2 and three, a statutory developmental progress check will be completed to review your child’s progress in the three prime areas or learning. This ensures that we have a clear picture of your child’s development and enables practitioners and parents to understand the next developmental steps and support. The Nest can then plan activities to meet these needs. Personalised learning journey records will be kept for your children and we will work closely together with you to work towards achieving your child’s developmental milestones.

Apply Now

To access the application form for The Nest, please click on the link below for the campus that you wish to apply for:

For Grace Darling: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSee5B2w1TZ9srOzpSDkQG6XUzm-wa17yjO6N68UxZW7XY8ITQ/viewform

For Robert Stephenson (Bishop’s): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfsDjvSBsRJB79OA0hpALoHuKfX0EPlZ1PeYUQH8gepOTmyYA/viewform

If you wish to enquire about the process of application for childcare at NCEA The Nest, please contact us via email or telephone:

Email: nest@ncea.org.uk

Telephone: Robert Stephenson Campus : 01670 844323 or Grace Darling Campus: 01670 812019

Websites: https://bishops.ncea.org.uk/ or https://gracedarling.ncea.org.uk/