Welcome to Easterside Academy Early Years
Our School
The aim of our school is to be a safe, happy, creative and successful school which enhances the life chances of its pupils, and which is an integral part of the life of the local community.
Easterside Academy are proud to be part of the Enquire Learning Trust.
Easterside Academy opened on the 1st April 2014 as a converter academy. The predecessor school was Easterside Primary School. In September 2018, Easterside Academy joined ‘The Enquire Learning Trust’.
To contact the Trust or to find out more about them, please visit their website below:
www.enquirelearningtrust.org
Our Values
At Easterside Academy, our Early Years curriculum is designed to be full of wonder, play, and memorable experiences. We provide a balance of adult-led teaching and child-initiated play, ensuring every child has the best chance to grow and succeed.
Play is at the heart of our approach, helping children to develop physically, emotionally, socially, and academically while building a positive attitude to school and learning. We place a strong focus on language and vocabulary, supporting children to communicate with confidence and ease. Our environment, both indoors and outdoors, encourages curiosity, exploration challenge, and a love of learning.
We aim for all of our children to become confident, resilient, and indepen to believe in themselves, and to interact positively with others. By provid rich experiences, strong relationships, and consistent routines, we give ou children the best possible start in life and the firm foundations they need become successful learners.
Welcome from the Principal
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome to Easterside Academy! We are delighted to have you and your child join our school community. The early years are such an important part of your child’s development time - full of curiosity, growth, and discovery, and our aim is to make your child’s first school experiences happy, safe, and inspiring. Our caring team work closely with families to ensure a smooth start to school life and to nurture each child’s unique strengths. Together, we can build the foundations for a lifelong love of learning. We look forward to sharing this exciting journey with you and celebrating your child’s milestones along the way Warm regards, Mrs H Seymour
Meet the Team
Miss Robinson Teaching Assistant
Mrs Bazanek Nursery Lead
Miss Taylor Teaching Assistant
Mrs Robinson
Reception Teacher
Mrs Sykes
Early Years Lead
Reception Teacher
Miss Westwood Teaching Assistant
Miss Fleming Teaching Assistant
Our School Day
Nursery:
Morning session- 8:45am-11:45am
Afternoon session- 12:15pm-3:15pm
30 hour places- 8:45am - 3:15pm
Reception:
School starts- 8:45am.
School finishes- at 3:15pm.
Children will leave through their classroom door at the end of their session. For safeguarding reasons, children must be collected by an adult aged 18 or over and please inform the office or class teacher if someone else is collecting your child.
There is no supervision on the EYs/KS1 yard and children will be your responsibility until the door opens. If late, please take your child to the main entrance.
Wrap around care is available for all Reception children which extends the day from 8am to 5:30pm. Please contact the school office for more information.
Open door policy.
Pupil Premium Funding
The Pupil Premium grant is extra funding given to schools to help improve education for:
Children from disadvantaged backgrounds
Children with parents serving in the armed forces
At Easterside Academy, 58% of our pupils receive Pupil Premium funding (compared to around 25% nationally). This means most of our pupils benefit from this support.
Research shows that disadvantaged children often face extra challenges at school and may not achieve as well as others. Pupil Premium helps us close these gaps and give children the best chance to succeed.
Learning Through Play
Play is often viewed as a simple pastime for children, but its significance in early childhood education is profound. Play-based learning fosters essential cognitive, social, and emotional development in young learners.
Play-based learning is an educational approach that uses play as the primary mode of learning. Children engage in structured and unstructured play to explore concepts, solve problems, and develop skills. This method is rooted in the understanding that children learn best when they are actively involved and having fun.
Our highly skilled team provide a learning environment that enables children to explore, create, experiment and play! Our resources, equipment and activities are all set up in a way that meets the developmental needs of each child. Our staff will regularly play with the children because it is our skilled questioning and support that helps them to progress. Throughout each day the children will play independently, in groups, with an adult, at a table, on the floor, writing in a book, writing in the mud! We encourage all of our parents to play with their children at home too. You will be amazed at what children are capable of when we meet them at their level.
Early Learning Goals
Indoor E i m
Outdoor Environment
School Uniform
We ask all children to wear school uniform. It helps everyone feel part of the school and show pride in being at Easterside Academy. Uniform with the logo can be ordered online (optional):
�� Lollipops – Middlesbrough
✅ Everyday Uniform
Navy blue sweatshirt / jumper / cardigan
Grey trousers / skirt / pinafore dress
White polo shirt
Summer option: blue gingham dress or grey shorts
Red hooded top (for outdoor learning/PE in colder months – available at Lollipops)
Wellies (for OPAL outdoor play)
Black shoes (no open-toed shoes)
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♂ P.E. Uniform
Navy blue or black shorts
Red t-shirt
Black plimsolls or trainers
Red hooded top (for outdoor learning/PE in colder months
Children should wear PE kit to school on PE days
ℹ Please Remember
❌ No jewellery
❌ No Apple/SMART watches (simple watches only if not distracting)
�� Label ALL clothing with your child’s name
Starting Nursery
Parents will need to visit the school office as early as possible to express interest in their child attending Easterside Academy nursery. Children are usually admitted to Nursery shortly after their third birthdays, unless there is a waiting list due to nursery numbers being full. Nursery staff will contact parents when a place is available in order to initiate transition and induction procedures. The current nursery capacity is for 26 children and children attend for 15 hours, either mornings or afternoons. We also offer 30 hour places for children whose parents are eligible. The criteria for 30 hour places can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/free-childcareif-working/check-youre-eligible
Further information regarding admissions to our nursery can be found: https://eastersideacademy.co.uk/importantinformation/admissions
Starting Reception
The Enquire Learning Trust is the admission authority for each of our academies and is responsible for setting and managing their admission arrangements. You can find full details, including our Admissions Policy, key documents, and information about appeals, on https://enquirelearningtrust.org/key-information/admissions
How to Apply
For children starting Reception in September, applications must be made through your home Local Authority as part of the normal admissions round.
Application deadline: 15 January
Offer day: In April, your Local Authority will notify you of your child’s school place on behalf of the Trust
Where to Find More Information
To access application forms, or learn more about the process, please vis your Local Authority’s admissions website or the admissions section of t Academy you’re applying to.
For details and the application forms, please visit: https://www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/schools-and-education/schooladmissions/online-admissions
What Can I do to Prepare?
Communication
Every child has their own account on the app Class Dojo. This is a communication tool which parents can access at home. It’s simple, secure, and gives you a window into our school day!
School Story
By connecting to your child on Class Dojo, you will also see the “School Story” which is a wall of announcements and photos for all parents across school. This might be a reminder about non-uniform day or a coffee morning.
Pupil Portfolio
Once you are connected to your child’s account, you will be able to see posts on their personal Pupil Profile- a place to celebrate work and achievement.
Class Story
Once connected, your child’s teacher can broadcast information to all the parents in once class using the Class Story. This might be a PE reminder, or a class visit update.
