Prospective Reception Parents


Why Families Choose Southridge First School

Southridge First School is a place where children flourish — academically, socially, and emotionally — within a warm, ambitious, and inclusive community. From Nursery through to Year 4, every child is known, valued, and supported to achieve their very best.

An Exceptional Start in Reception

Our Reception children learn in beautifully resourced indoor and outdoor classrooms, designed to inspire creativity, curiosity, and a deep love of learning. With a child‑centred approach, our Early Years team ensures that every child feels confident, engaged, and eager to explore the world around them.

Outstanding Academic Achievement

We are proud of our consistently high academic outcomes, including nationally recognised performance in the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check. Our curriculum champions excellence, ensuring children build strong foundations in reading, writing, and mathematics while developing the enthusiasm and independence to carry their learning forward.

A Leader in Outdoor Learning

Outdoor learning is woven into the fabric of Southridge. From Early Years to Year 4, children engage in meaningful experiences that deepen understanding and spark joy. Our approach has been endorsed by Professor Jean‑Philippe Ayotte‑Beaudet and featured in national publications, recognising our commitment to learning beyond the classroom.

Children explore our extensive and thoughtfully developed grounds, which include:

  • A thriving nature pond
  • A productive allotment
  • An all‑weather multi‑use games area
  • A tranquil forest area
  • A peaceful butterfly path
  • An adventurous climbing‑frame zone

At lunchtime, children enjoy varied and exciting play options — from basketball and den building to Lego and disco dancing — encouraging social development, creativity, and active play.

A Rich and Inclusive Music Offer

Music is for everyone at Southridge. Every child progresses through a universal programme of instrumental teaching, learning glockenspiel, ukulele, and recorder as they move through the school. In Year 4, they can also take peripatetic lessons in cello, violin, or viola, discovering new passions and developing musical confidence.

Platinum‑Level Sport for All

As a Platinum Sports Award school, we offer a diverse range of sporting opportunities. Children take part in both intra‑ and inter‑school events, including:

  • Gymnastics
  • Tag rugby
  • Orienteering
  • Dodgeball
  • Cross‑country
  • And many more exciting activities

We help children develop physical literacy, teamwork, resilience, and a lifelong love of movement.

Support for Children with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND)

We are deeply proud to be an inclusive school, where every child is supported to fulfil their potential.

Our SEND provision is rooted in the belief that all pupils deserve to feel successful, confident, and understood. We work closely with a wide range of external agencies, using specialist advice to tailor support to each child’s needs.

We celebrate the achievements of all learners and ensure that every child feels recognised for their strengths, progress, and contributions to school life.

A Wide Range of After‑School Clubs

Beyond the classroom, Southridge offers an extensive and ever‑expanding menu of after‑school clubs, providing opportunities for children to discover new interests and talents. These include:

  • Gymnastics
  • Podcasts
  • Origami
  • Football
  • STEM
  • Board games
  • Cooking
  • And much more

There is something for every child, whether they love to create, compete, explore, or collaborate.

Year‑Round Childcare From 9 Months Upwards

Our childcare provision supports busy families by offering high‑quality care all year round, throughout every school holiday except Christmas, for children from 9 months old and up.

With nurturing staff and thoughtfully planned activities, we provide a safe, engaging environment where children can play, learn, and build friendships.

Supporting Children’s Mental Health & Wellbeing

We take a proactive and holistic approach to mental health. Our staff are highly knowledgeable and supportive, ensuring that children feel safe, heard, and understood.

We use the Zones of Regulation across the school to help children identify emotions, develop self‑regulation strategies, and build emotional literacy.

Our established partnerships with local specialists — including Blue Mental Health and Connect Mental Health — strengthen the support available to children and families when they need it most.

Growing Together — From Nursery to High School

Southridge First School is part of a thriving local education system, offering children an exceptional onward journey. Most pupils progress to Valley Gardens Middle School and then to Whitley Bay High School, both of which are highly regarded for their academic excellence, pastoral care, and enriching opportunities.

Families value the strong relationships and smooth transitions that support children at every stage of their educational pathway.

A Journey of Personal Development

At Southridge First School, we believe that education is not only about academic success — it is about nurturing confident, compassionate, and socially responsible young people. Our thoughtfully designed personal development journey ensures that every child grows in character as well as in knowledge.

Central to this journey are our bespoke Southridge Positive Impact Passports. These passports empower children to take ownership of their personal growth by earning rewards for making meaningful contributions to:

  • Themselves – developing resilience, confidence, healthy habits, and a sense of pride
  • Their Local Community – helping others, showing kindness, and engaging with local initiatives
  • The Wider World – taking steps to protect the environment, embrace diversity, and contribute to a better future

These passports help children recognise the impact of their choices and celebrate the many small, positive actions that shape who they become.

To deepen this development journey, our children work with our Specialist Community Ambassadors — experts in their fields who inspire and guide pupils to explore key global and local issues. Through assemblies, projects, and hands‑on experiences, the ambassadors help children identify areas where they too can make a difference, such as:

  • The Environment
  • Our Local Community
  • Physical Health
  • Emotional Wellbeing
  • Diversity, Inclusion and Equity

These experiences broaden children’s horizons and ensure they understand that even the smallest actions can have a meaningful impact on the world around them.

A Place to Flourish

Southridge First School is more than a school — it is a community where children feel inspired, supported, and excited to learn. With exceptional teaching, inclusive values, enriching experiences, and a joyful learning environment, we nurture confident young people who are ready to shine.

To book a visit

Why not come and see for yourselves? To book onto a tour of the school, please contact our School Office here.