Nursery Advice
Claim Your Nursery

Bensham Grove Nursery School at the Elgin Centre

Ofsted: Strong standard·Elgin Centre, Elgin Road, Gateshead, NE9 5PA · Gateshead
Number of places
52 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jan 2026
Local authority
Gateshead

About this day nursery

Bensham Grove Nursery School, located in Gateshead, offers a nurturing environment for children aged 2-4 years. Established in 2023, this nursery has quickly achieved an "Outstanding" rating from Ofsted.

It is particularly noted for its exceptional support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), including many with complex needs. The dedicated staff are highly trained to understand and respond to each child's unique lived experiences, providing targeted support and highly effective interventions, such as sensory support and strategies for emotional difficulties.

The nursery fosters an environment where children thrive, developing impressive progress from their starting points and forming secure relationships with staff and peers. With clear routines, children feel secure and develop independence, actively engaging in purposeful play.

The curriculum is broad and balanced, with a strong focus on physical development, communication, and language, ensuring children are well-prepared for their next stage of learning. Leaders and staff work closely with parents, building meaningful relationships and utilising funding effectively to provide excellent outcomes for all children.

Our ethos

Bensham Grove Nursery School's philosophy centres on placing children's voices at the heart of their learning, with a strong commitment to play-based education tailored to individual developmental stages. Inspired by Margaret McMillan, they aim to foster a supportive and engaging environment, integrating education, care, and health services while actively involving parents and the wider community, with a particular focus on supporting vulnerable children and those with SEND.

What it's like

Children thrive in this caring and nurturing nursery where they are cared for as part of the family. Clear routines help children to feel secure and develop their independence, actively engaging in purposeful play. Staff know children well and are highly responsive to their individual needs, providing exceptional support and guidance to children and families, particularly those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

Exceptional SEND supportNurturing environmentStrong progressPurposeful playSecure relationships

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)
Pricing on request

This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.

Request pricing →

Key facts

Opening hours

Sidney Grove: 8:00am – 6:00pm, 50 weeks a year; Deckham: morning sessions 9:00 – 12:00, afternoon sessions 12:45 – 3:45, and 30 hour spaces from 9:00 – 3:00 (term time)

Age range

Birth to 5

Established

2023

Ofsted Inspection — new report card

Strong standard

Last inspected Jan 2026

Headline: Strong standard

Grade summary

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
—
Needs attention
—
Urgent improvement
—

Each dot represents one of the six inspection categories. Headline is the average of the six grades, rounded up.

Category grades

AchievementStrong standard
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routinesStrong standard
Children's welfare and wellbeingStrong standard
Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
InclusionExceptional
Leadership and governanceStrong standard
Age range
2 to 4
Registers
Early Years Register
Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Bensham Grove Nursery School at the Elgin Centre

Last inspected 30 January 2026 · Elizabeth Fish

Safeguarding effective

Actions the provider must take

  • Leaders and those responsible for governance should sustain their work to ensure continued improvement and high standards. They should focus on creating a transformational impact on the outcomes and experiences of disadvantaged children, those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, those who are known (or previously known) to children's social care, and those who may face other barriers to their learning and/or wellbeing.

What it's like to attend

Children thrive in this caring and nurturing nursery where they are cared for as part of the family. Clear routines help children to feel secure and develop their independence, actively engaging in purposeful play. Staff know children well and are highly responsive to their individual needs, providing exceptional support and guidance to children and families, particularly those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

Inspector highlights

  • The nursery supports a very high proportion of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who face barriers to their learning, with a transformational impact on their lives.
  • Children make impressive progress from their starting points and are well prepared for the next stage in their learning.
  • Children have very secure relationships with their key person and other children, thriving in a calm and purposeful learning environment.
  • Leaders have a precise overview of the curriculum, ensuring all children receive a broad and balanced education with a strong focus on physical development, communication, and language.
  • Leaders and staff have developed meaningful and supportive relationships with parents, ensuring efficient use of funding for the best possible outcomes for children, including a staffed sensory hub.

Areas to develop

  • 1Leaders and those responsible for governance should sustain their work to ensure continued improvement and high standards. They should focus on creating a transformational impact on the outcomes and experiences of disadvantaged children, those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, those who are known (or previously known) to children's social care, and those who may face other barriers to their learning and/or wellbeing.
Inspection #2748640 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

The nursery supports a very high proportion of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and many children who attend have complex needs. Leaders and staff have a transformational impact on the lives of these children, taking time to get to know children and their families incredibly well to understand their lived experiences. Staff are highly trained to support children who have experienced significant trauma and provide prompt targeted support for children who face barriers to their learning, including sensory support delivered by purposely trained staff and highly effective interventions for emotional difficulties. Staff are highly responsive to children's individual needs, particularly those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, or those who face barriers to their learning, and provide exceptional support and guidance to children and families.

Outdoor space

Children thoroughly enjoy developing their physical skills as they build with blocks and explore how different-shaped blocks fit on top of each other. Younger children thoroughly enjoy playing with the sand while others spend time in the garden.

EAL / language support

Not specified in report.

Inspection history

Most recent inspection

30 January 2026

Strong standard

Only one graded inspection on record — a trend chart will appear here once a second graded report is published.

View full Ofsted report

Frequently asked about Bensham Grove Nursery School at the Elgin Centre

Nearby day nurseries in Gateshead

Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to Bensham Grove Nursery School at the Elgin Centre.

Are you the owner of this nursery? Claim this listing to manage photos, hours and contact details.

Claim listing

Share this nursery

Send to a partner, friend or family member.

This listing has been compiled from official Ofsted records, the nursery's own website, details provided directly by the nursery where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more