Hamd House Nursery, Bordesley Green

A song about stars can become a conversation about light and darkness; a senses activity can introduce Braille. These September 2022 examples capture the character of Hamd House Nursery, Bordesley Green: play that gives children something further to investigate. At its September 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding overall and across every assessed area, finding that children were exceptionally well prepared for their next stage of learning.

The Birmingham setting accepts children aged two to five and has 160 places in total. Morning, afternoon and eligibility-dependent full-time attendance run during term time. Personalised support plans and links with child development services are practical parts of its current offer.

Learning and Activities

The EYFS provides the framework for children's learning, development and care: play and everyday experiences help children build language, physical skills and understanding. Here, the September 2022 examples show how one activity could lead into another, rather than ending with the completion of a task.

In September 2022, children explored sounds, textures, smells and tastes while learning about their senses. Conversations then extended to Braille and assistance dogs, introducing different ways people read and manage everyday tasks. That gave a familiar subject a broader purpose: children could consider experiences beyond their own.

Shape play took several forms that month. Children used jigsaws and sorting toys, investigated shapes in water and sand, and sang Twinkle Twinkle Little Star as staff introduced ideas about darkness, daylight and the sky. Stories also travelled between activities: children used puppets, acted out characters outdoors, made dough figures and assembled picture collages. The same idea could be explored through movement, conversation and making.

Outdoor and Community Life

During September 2022, a butterfly seen in the garden became a starting point for comparing colours with a child's drawing. Outdoor tricycle play gave children opportunities to practise pedalling and persistence. Children also brought in models made with their families from reused boxes, connecting home activity with conversations and displays at nursery.

Today, cooking activities carry no charge because the nursery subsidises them. Local trips are free, while end-of-term outings are charged at cost, with children receiving EYPP exempt from trip charges. These are separate arrangements, so families should distinguish everyday local outings from the end-of-term programme.

The playrooms have resources children can reach themselves, displays and organised learning areas, alongside comfortable seating. Their layout accommodates shared activity and independent work. For parents, that is a useful combination to look at: children need opportunities both to join others and to pursue an idea on their own.

Relationships and Communication

In September 2022, key persons used their knowledge of individual children's interests, abilities and needs to shape activities with colleagues. Children new to nursery, including those changing rooms, became comfortable with unfamiliar surroundings quickly. These are dated examples of how relationships supported participation, rather than a promise about any individual child's settling period.

That month, family involvement included recycled-model projects completed during the holidays and a recent graduation ceremony. Staff also helped parents find community services when families needed additional support. The practical significance is the connection between a child's nursery day and circumstances at home, rather than treating the two separately.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

Current SEND arrangements include personalised plans and joint working with parents, local child development centres and City Council Area SENDCOs. These mechanisms give families specific points of discussion when considering how their child's needs would be supported.

At the September 2022 inspection, Ofsted judged safeguarding effective, noting checks on staff suitability, staff understanding of welfare concerns and procedures for responding to them. In September 2022, children also practised using English alongside words and phrases from their home and other languages, while snack choices included fruit and vegetables.

The application form asks about allergies, dietary requirements, medical conditions and personal-care needs. It also seeks information about outside professionals and any equipment a child requires. This creates an opportunity to explain the child's existing care arrangements before attendance begins.

Sessions and Attendance

Attendance is Monday to Friday during term time. Morning sessions run from 8.50am to 11.50am; afternoon sessions run from 12.50pm to 3.50pm. Full-time sessions run from 9am to 3pm for children who meet Birmingham City Council eligibility criteria and attend for the full day.

Flexible access to funded entitlement is also offered according to individual needs. The morning and afternoon patterns provide different parts of the day, while the full-time pattern has its own eligibility condition. Families comparing options should treat those as separate choices rather than assuming every child can book the same attendance pattern.

Applications use the nursery's enrolment forms, with a copy of the child's birth certificate returned alongside the completed form. The Bordesley Green contact number is 0121 678 1014, and email enquiries go to nurseries@hamdhouse.co.uk.

Getting There

The address is 714-730 Bordesley Green, Birmingham, B9 5PQ. Families are asked to use the nursery carpark for collection and drop-off, follow its one-way system and avoid parking on Bordesley Green Road.

Funding and Paid Extras

Early Entitlement funded education is offered for children aged two to five, with attendance during term time. Fruit and nappies are charged separately, with payment collected termly; funded attendance should therefore be considered alongside these additional costs.

Cooking activities are subsidised and free to children. Local trips are also free; end-of-term trips are charged at cost, except for children receiving EYPP, who are not charged for trips. Current prices should form part of the nursery's written quotation.

The nursery describes an onward link with Hamd House School through its application form. Attending nursery does not guarantee a Reception place; admission is a separate decision.

• Term-time attendance. Morning and afternoon sessions sit alongside an eligibility-dependent full-time pattern. At a visit, discuss which pattern fits your child and your family's arrangements outside term time.
• Individual support. Personalised plans involve parents, child development services and City Council Area SENDCOs. If your child needs additional support, discuss how their plan would be put into practice during the session you are considering.
• Fruit and nappies. Both attract separate termly charges, while trip charges depend on the outing and EYPP status. Request a written quotation covering the items relevant to your child, including arrangements for any dietary needs.
• Moving on to school. The application form refers to Hamd House School, but nursery attendance does not secure a Reception place. Consider nursery suitability and Reception admission separately.

Hamd House suits families seeking term-time morning or afternoon sessions, as well as those eligible for its full-time pattern. Its September 2022 learning examples have substance: stories moved between making and outdoor play, and everyday investigations opened up conversations about other people's experiences.

Personalised SEND plans and clearly separated charges add practical decision value. The key choice is whether the attendance pattern, support arrangements and additional costs fit the child and family, with onward school admission treated as a separate decision.