Al Emaan Nursery

An Islamic ethos, daily garden play and an emphasis on English vocabulary give Al Emaan Nursery in Sparkhill a clear character. Family traditions matter here, and children from all backgrounds are welcomed. The offer combines faith-informed manners with play, language and growing independence.

At its May 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective. That dated judgement sits alongside a current offer for children aged two to five, with capacity for 40 children in total. Morning and afternoon sessions serve families seeking a shorter nursery day during term time.

Two practical strengths stand out: Startwell, an initiative promoting healthy eating and physical activity, and Blossom, the online platform through which families follow learning and contribute information from home. Both connect nursery routines with family life.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage provides the framework for learning through play, including communication, physical development and social development alongside early literacy, mathematics and creative activity. It is the shared early-years foundation, rather than an extra programme unique to this nursery. Here, planning takes account of children's interests and ways of learning.

Continuous Provision means children have an ongoing environment to explore and resources from which to choose. The practical value is room for children to initiate activity, make decisions and practise independence. Daily vocabulary-building adds a clear emphasis: English language development is part of the nursery's everyday work.

In May 2023, children shaped dough, discussed their creations and identified colours in pictures. Those activities linked hand control with conversation, giving early writing preparation a playful form. Books were shared between friends, while a daily movement session involved different actions. Learning was spread across physical activity, talk and play.

There was also a limitation. In May 2023, adults sometimes narrowed children's play during planned activities, reducing opportunities for children to pursue their own ideas and think problems through. The balance between adult direction and children's choices is therefore an important part of judging the experience here.

Outdoor and Community Life

A large garden is used every day, with suitable outdoor clothing expected. That makes outdoor play a routine part of attendance, rather than an occasional addition. In May 2023, scooters gave children practice in balance, and sand play prompted discussion about shells and new vocabulary.

Startwell links movement with healthy eating and oral health. The nursery has ambassadors for the initiative and has hosted a dentist to talk to children about looking after their teeth. Physical activity takes place inside and outside, so the programme extends beyond snack time.

The Islamic ethos includes daily attention to manners and conduct, while respect for different family cultures is explicit. In May 2023, children also explored cultural celebrations beyond their own. For families, the combination matters: faith shapes the nursery's identity, while learning about other backgrounds forms part of the experience.

Relationships and Communication

Settling starts with an allocated key worker and a gradual increase in the time a child spends away from their parent or carer. The pace varies between children; the aim is familiarity with the adults and routine before the agreed attendance hours are reached. This gives the key relationship time to develop.

Blossom brings observations, developmental reports and newsletters into a parent app. Families can see learning from home, contribute moments from family life and update their child's interests. Learning Journals also collect photographs and examples of activities, and families keep them when their child leaves. These provide different ways to understand progress beyond a brief daily conversation.

Regular individual consultations give parents time to discuss development, alongside everyday conversations with staff. Some team members speak Urdu and Arabic. Parents can also participate through storytelling, visits and workshops, including sessions about parenting and healthy eating.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the May 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that developmental concerns prompted timely support involving the SENDCo and other professionals, and that children learning English received effective help using both English and their home languages. The concrete strength was attention to individual needs, rather than a single approach applied to every child.

Current safeguarding arrangements include designated lead roles, enhanced DBS checks and staff training in child protection. Collection arrangements require authorised adults, with parents expected to notify the nursery beforehand when an emergency changes who will collect their child.

In May 2023, everyday independence included pouring drinks, managing coats and practising personal hygiene. These are useful foundations for moving on to school: children were learning to manage small tasks themselves. Assessments can accompany children when they start school, allowing their learning history to move with them.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is 2a Lea Road, Birmingham, B11 3LU. Attendance follows term time, with closure during school holidays. Monday-to-Friday morning sessions run from 8.45am to 11.45am; afternoon sessions run from noon to 3pm. These are separate booking patterns, useful for families organising nursery around part of the day.

Enquiries can be made by telephone or email through the nursery's contact route. The gradual settling arrangement leads towards the hours agreed for each child, rather than expecting every child to manage their complete session immediately.

Funding and Paid Extras

The nursery accepts the 15 hours or 30 hour childcare entitlement, within its term-time attendance model. Entitlement and the snack arrangement should be considered separately when planning attendance; claiming funded hours does not remove the stated snack contribution.

Snacks and drinks include fruit, crackers or cereal, with milk and water; parents contribute separately to this option and can opt out. Families must identify allergies on the admission form so the key worker is informed.

• Adult direction and children's choices. In May 2023, planned activities sometimes curtailed children's own exploration. During a visit, ask how staff now extend a child's idea rather than bringing the activity back to their original plan.
• Transitions before meals. In May 2023, staff positioning during changes of routine sometimes left colleagues without the support they needed, interrupting stories and learning. Ask how familiar adults are deployed at these points in the day.
• Term-time sessions and snack arrangements. Morning and afternoon attendance ends at 3pm at the latest, and school holidays are outside the attendance calendar. Allergy-affected families should confirm current snack practice; families considering funded hours should also ask how non-food consumables are handled.

Al Emaan suits families seeking either morning or afternoon term-time sessions, with an Islamic ethos, daily outdoor play and a clear emphasis on language. Blossom and individual consultations give parents several ways to stay involved, while Startwell connects activity, food and oral health.

The Good judgement from May 2023 is a useful reference point, but the practical test is how adults support children's own ideas and organise changes of routine. Those two aspects deserve close attention alongside the nursery's faith, language and family partnership offer.