Fox Hollies Nursery

Brick building, colour mixing and learning to wash up cups gave Fox Hollies Nursery a practical, hands-on character in November 2021. At its 9 November 2021 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good overall.

The nursery has 50 places in total and is based in Acocks Green, Birmingham. The children attending in November 2021 were aged 1 to 4; that age range describes the group at that time.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care: play supports learning alongside everyday routines. In November 2021, children chose resources independently, built tall structures with bricks and experimented with mixing colours. These examples show learning through doing and conversation rather than simply following instructions.

Outside, November 2021 activities included pushing trolleys, riding wheeled toys and sweeping leaves. A ladybird discovery prompted questions about colour and spots, then further searching in the garden. Seasonal leaves also became a starting point for discussion.

The outdoor examples from November 2021 brought movement and observation together. Younger children pushed trolleys, while older children used wheeled toys and brooms. These were different ways of getting involved in the same outdoor space. Looking closely at a ladybird added another kind of activity: children described what they noticed, answered questions and carried on searching. The garden gave conversation a concrete subject.

Indoors in November 2021, rolling marbles and combining paint colours encouraged children to explore what happened during an activity. Building together with bricks brought shared play into the picture too. The practical routines mattered alongside these experiments: washing cups after snack drinks gave children a task connected to their own day. Independence involved both choosing something to play with and taking part in everyday jobs.

Planning was still developing in November 2021. Staff used information from parents and their knowledge of each child's next learning steps, but the new arrangements needed further embedding to accelerate progress. This was the specific improvement priority, rather than a criticism of children's willingness to participate.

At the November 2021 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and identified language support, including signs and visual prompts, that helped children with SEND and those learning English as an additional language; staff also understood how to respond to child-protection concerns and allegations about colleagues, with recruitment checks, continuing suitability checks and routine checks of the environment forming part of the safeguarding arrangements.

In November 2021, children formed close connections with their key person and other practitioners. A welcome song included children's names, giving each child a moment of recognition within the group. Staff encouraged independence too, celebrating children managing their own coats and zips.

Song time in November 2021 also involved children copying movements with their bodies. Participation was active, with actions alongside singing. Adults used praise during the day, including cheers and high fives for children fastening their coats. That linked encouragement to a specific achievement children could recognise, rather than leaving independence as an abstract aim.

Language support in November 2021 combined clear speech with signs and visual aids. Staff adjusted their spoken support to children's needs, giving them different ways to understand an interaction. For parents considering how their child communicates, this dated account provides concrete examples of practice to discuss: the adult's words, the accompanying visual support and the child's opportunity to respond.

Daily conversations with parents in November 2021 covered children's learning and ways to support it at home. Staff also received training and tailored support while adjusting their planning systems. These were practical mechanisms for connecting home information with nursery activity.

In November 2021, practitioners discussed their work together and considered how to help individual children progress. Planning therefore involved both information from families and discussion within the staff team. The improvement priority concerned making the new arrangements consistent enough to support faster progress, so enthusiasm for activities and the organisation of learning need to be considered together.

The address is 419 Fox Hollies Road, Acocks Green, Birmingham B27 7QA. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, throughout the year, with bank holiday closures.

In November 2021, the nursery provided funded early education for three- and four-year-olds.

• Planning development. Embedding the new planning arrangements was the November 2021 improvement priority. Its significance is how consistently activities build on each child's next learning step.
• Matching care to your child. During a visit, how would settling, attendance and day-to-day care be organised for your child's age and your family's routine?

Fox Hollies Nursery suits families seeking a Birmingham setting with year-round opening. Its November 2021 picture combines practical play, outdoor exploration and encouragement towards independence. The Good judgement provides a dated quality reference; the planning improvement remains an important part of that assessment.