Birmingham Community Childrens Centre

Individual communication needs shape the strongest account of Birmingham Community Childrens Centre: picture cards, signing and sensory play gave children different ways to participate in December 2022. At its 6 December 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the centre Good and found that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities received strong emotional support tailored to their needs.

The centre is at 61 Bacchus Road in Winson Green, Birmingham, B18 4QY, with capacity for 60 children. Those attending in December 2022 were aged 1 to 10; that age range belongs to that visit.

In December 2022, babies explored dough with hammers and watched lights in the sensory room. Staff responded to an interest in rolling pens by bringing out balls, allowing the play to develop from what had caught a child's attention. Musical instruments and accompanying singing provided another way to join in.

Books became interactive through puppets and props. Children used a wolf, pigs and houses to retell a story and practise familiar phrases. In December 2022, photographs, signing and picture cards also supported communication for non-verbal children and those learning English as an additional language. Participation could take different forms.

The early years foundation stage sets requirements for children's learning, development and care. Here, the December 2022 activities illustrate learning through play, with communication and sensory exploration woven into children's experiences.

In December 2022, settling arrangements were adapted to individual children, and staff worked with parents to establish starting points and share learning targets. Targets from other professionals informed the next steps planned for each child, linking activities with support beyond the centre.

Parents also attended workshops and monthly wellbeing sessions in December 2022, including pottery, yoga and dress making. Advice covered sleep, oral health, screen use and sugar in food and drinks, extending the conversation beyond the child's session.

At the December 2022 inspection, Ofsted judged safeguarding effective, with staff understanding how to respond to concerns, sharing information with relevant agencies and checking risks against individual children's needs.

Sessions and Attendance

In December 2022, term-time short-break provision ran on Mondays and Tuesdays, with morning sessions from 10am to midday and afternoon sessions from 1pm to 3pm. The holiday play scheme opened on those days from 9.30am to 3pm during most school holidays. These were the arrangements at that date.

• Mathematical stretch. In December 2022, more-able children had too few opportunities to work with numerals, weight and measurement. Families should look closely at how activities extend a child's existing understanding.
• Teaching development. In December 2022, the manager's observations of teaching were too infrequent to pinpoint each practitioner's development needs precisely. Regular scrutiny of teaching is a relevant consideration alongside individual care planning.
• Short-break planning. The December 2022 timetable combined morning and afternoon term-time sessions with a holiday play scheme. At a visit, what attendance arrangement and settling plan would suit your child's needs now?

For families considering morning or afternoon short breaks, the December 2022 picture offers useful detail: communication aids, sensory experiences and shared individual targets. It also identifies a clear limitation around mathematical challenge. The centre merits consideration for families weighing individual support and participation alongside the depth of learning offered to their child.