Seaham Harbour Nursery School, Seaham
Seaham Harbour Nursery School is a nursery school for pupils aged 2 to 5 in Seaham. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in July 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2015)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Seaham Harbour Nursery School in detail
Seaham Harbour Nursery School in its own words
In its own words: "In this section you will find information on how we run our school including our current staffing structure, governing body and our school policies. You can find details of how we are performing by viewing or downloading our Ofsted Reports."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Who goes there
0% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 1.1% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (90%) and Black (6%).
In 2026, 4 pupils (4.3%) received SEN support and 1 (1.1%) had an education, health and care plan. The most common need among them is autism.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Seaham Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Mount Street (nw-bound), 80 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Seaham Harbour 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 195 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in County Durham (84), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from March 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Outstanding.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Seaham Harbour Nursery School provides children with a wonderful start to their educational journey. It is a happy, welcoming place in which to learn. Children feel safe and valued here. Parents and carers appreciate the care and support that the school gives to their children. Children are taught to be independent. They explore their thoughts and ideas through play. Children develop positive learning attitudes for the future.
All staff share the same vision for excellence. They put children's learning at the centre of all that happens. They are determined to ensure that children fulfil their individual potential. This determination is realised. The curriculum is carefully planned to help all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make exceptional progress. Children develop the curiosity and courage to explore and talk about their learning.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school's leaders and all staff have an excellent understanding of the importance of early education. From the moment children join the school, there is a focus on helping them to learn. Staff are knowledgeable about the statutory requirements for children in the early years. They use this knowledge to guide and support children effectively. The curriculum focuses equally on all important areas of learning. Children are encouraged to be curious and ask questions about the world around them.
Communication and language development is central to the school's curriculum. Core books are identified for each half term. These provide starting points for learning. Stories are shared, enjoyed and retold by the children. Familiar songs are used to signal important times of the day, such as snack time. Children enjoy singing them and learning new rhymes. Booklets of familiar rhymes are shared with families to help children to continue their learning at home.
From Ofsted's July 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its March 2015 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
0.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby nursery schools
Social & online
Keep up with Seaham Harbour Nursery School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Seaham Harbour Nursery School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Seaham Harbour Nursery School is in County Durham; for families living there:
- County Durham's school travel policy: School transport policies and strategies
- How to apply: Apply for free home to school travel
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 4
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 1 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
4 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in County Durham is 5 (the median across 280 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
Area Demand Pressure - Seaham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Seaham
Across County Durham council
Places available
5,720
Applications
4,986
Got 1st preference
94.2%
Got preferred school
98.5%
All secondary applications across County Durham council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
4
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
5.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
94
Total Pupils
48
Boys
46
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
2
Teachers
47.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
2026 data
Questions parents ask about Seaham Harbour Nursery School
What is Seaham Harbour Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
Seaham Harbour Nursery School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2015, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Seaham Harbour Nursery School?
No fixed boundary. When Seaham Harbour Nursery School is oversubscribed, County Durham allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Seaham Harbour Nursery School?
Seaham Harbour Nursery School has around 94 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Seaham Harbour Nursery School?
Apply through County Durham's coordinated admissions process, naming Seaham Harbour Nursery School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Seaham Harbour Nursery School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 1 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 4 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in County Durham is 5 (the median across 280 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Seaham Harbour Nursery School?
Seaham Harbour Nursery School is at Bottleworks Road, Seaham Harbour, Seaham, County Durham, SR7 7NN.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)