Sir James Knott Memorial Nursery School, North Shields
Sir James Knott Memorial Nursery School is a nursery school for pupils aged 2 to 4 in North Shields. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2022 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Sir James Knott Memorial Nursery School in detail
Who goes there
In 2026, 3 pupils (2.6%) received SEN support and 2 (1.8%) had an education, health and care plan. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Tynemouth (Tyne and Wear Metro Station), about 410 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Tynemouth Road-Rodney Close (sw-bound), 100 metres away.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport)
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoThis judgement is from December 2013, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2022 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This nursery creates a welcoming, caring environment where children flourish and feel safe and happy. Staff are highly skilled at using creative activities like stories, songs, and outdoor play to develop children's learning, communication, and confidence. The school goes the extra mile to support all children, including those with additional needs, and keeps parents involved every step of the way.
Key Strengths
- Strong focus on reading through stories, songs, and rhyme to help children learn letter and word sounds
- Excellent promotion of children's communication and language skills
- Well-developed curriculum that is ambitious and encourages curiosity about the world
- Effective support for children with SEND, ensuring they access the same learning opportunities as their peers
- Strong safeguarding culture with all staff trained and vigilant about child safety
Areas for Improvement
- Some staff need further training to effectively develop young children's language skills and vocabulary building
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with a strong safety culture, well-trained staff who know children and families, and leaders who work vigilantly with other agencies to support children and families.
Extracurricular Activities
Outdoor exploration at local parks and beaches, litter picking, Music Moves project with drums
Sir James Knott Memorial Nursery School is a welcoming and caring place where staff are committed to children's learning and well-being. The school continues to be judged as good, with children settling quickly and enjoying a range of exciting learning opportunities.
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
Keep up with Sir James Knott Memorial Nursery School
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Sir James Knott Memorial Nursery School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Sir James Knott Memorial Nursery School is in North Tyneside; for families living there:
Apply to North Tyneside for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 6
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 4 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
0 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 North Tyneside is 12 (the median across 84 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 - North Shields
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for North Shields
Across North Tyneside council
Places available
1,743
Applications
1,685
Got 1st preference
84.3%
Got preferred school
94.4%
All secondary applications across North Tyneside council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
3
SEN Support
2
EHC Plans
4.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
114
Total Pupils
67
Boys
47
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
4
Teachers
28.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,912
Mean salary
2026 data
Questions parents ask about Sir James Knott Memorial Nursery School
What is Sir James Knott Memorial Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
Sir James Knott Memorial Nursery School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2022, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in December 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Sir James Knott Memorial Nursery School?
No fixed boundary. When Sir James Knott Memorial Nursery School is oversubscribed, North Tyneside allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Sir James Knott Memorial Nursery School?
Sir James Knott Memorial Nursery School has around 114 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Sir James Knott Memorial Nursery School?
Apply through North Tyneside's coordinated admissions process, naming Sir James Knott Memorial 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 Sir James Knott Memorial Nursery School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 4 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 0 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 North Tyneside is 12 (the median across 84 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Sir James Knott Memorial Nursery School?
Sir James Knott Memorial Nursery School is at Percy Square, River View, North Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE30 4AG.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)