Bensham Grove Nursery School, Gateshead

In its own words: "We often get asked, ‘what exactly is a maintained nursery school?’ This is not surprising as we are the only one in Gateshead! Maintained nursery schools are one of the UK’s unique educational assets, and yet remain a largely untold story. Most families know about nursery classes attached to primary schools, nurseries run as private businesses and volunteer-run playgroups."

From the headteacher's welcome: "We are very proud to be the only Maintained Nursery School in Gateshead. This is an exciting time in the history of our Nursery School as we have recently expanded to provide high quality education and care for children from birth to five across two sites in the borough of Gateshead."

0% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 10.1% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (76%) and Mixed (6%).

In 2026, 36 pupils (18.1%) received SEN support and 1 (0.5%) had an education, health and care plan. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.

The nearest tram or metro stop is Gateshead (Tyne and Wear Metro Station), about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.

13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bensham Road-Sidney Grove (ne-bound), 100 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Bensham Grove Nursery School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 454 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Gateshead (176), as is usual near a town centre.