Kids Place

A soft play area for the youngest children, a book corner for independent browsing and Loose Parts that children can put to their own uses give Kids Place a practical, play-led character. Creative activity has a clear place here. So does helping children become more independent, from choosing a book to preparing for the move to school.

At its June 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated Kids Place Good overall and found safeguarding effective, with good support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The important qualification concerned the pace and balance of adult interaction: some children needed more thinking time, while quieter children sometimes received less attention than confident peers.

Based at 207 Streetly Road, Birmingham, B23 7AH, Kids Place has capacity for 42 children, with a current age range starting at 3 months and extending to five years. Flexible hours and before- and after-school provision broaden its attendance offer.

Rooms and Ages

The Baby Unit provides space for the youngest children, while an under-two soft play area gives early physical play its own setting. Elsewhere, children can browse fiction and non-fiction in a quiet book corner, play with dough and contribute to a seasons board. These are concrete opportunities to choose, explore and make something of their own.

In June 2023, younger children had dedicated areas for learning and sleeping, alongside access to an art room. Making marks with different materials gave them opportunities to develop hand strength as well as experiment creatively. Keeping rest and activity in dedicated spaces was a useful part of the arrangement for young children.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework for learning, development and care. Here, child-initiated play sits alongside adult-led activities, giving children opportunities both to pursue their own interests and to take part in planned learning.

Loose Parts adds a specific way of working: children decide how to use the materials, practising cooperation, negotiation and problem-solving as they create. Startwell characters are also brought into learning each week. The combination puts children’s choices alongside recurring adult-supported activity rather than making the day entirely one or the other.

In June 2023, dance sessions involved movement, familiar songs and copying actions, including clapping and stamping among the youngest children. Staff also used visible next-step boards to keep individual learning priorities in view. During group activities, they adjusted tasks for the children taking part, rather than expecting everyone to tackle them in the same way.

Outdoor and Community Life

The garden supports messy and physical play, including a mud kitchen and obstacle courses. Park Trips extend activity beyond the nursery, while spray-painted artwork by Graffitup adds a recognisable visual feature to the setting.

In June 2023, outdoor play took place daily, with children tackling obstacle courses and trying stilts. Those activities demanded balance and coordination. They also offered a different kind of challenge from the books, dough and creative materials indoors.

Relationships and Communication

Free settling-in sessions give families a supported introduction before regular attendance. Staff are available to discuss concerns with parents and carers, and the manager holds the Designated Safeguarding Lead role. Paediatric first aid training is part of the staff arrangements.

In June 2023, children sought staff out for comfort and had close relationships with them. Parent communication combined consultations, an online application and spoken daily feedback, with ideas for continuing learning at home. That mix offered both a longer view of development and a conversation about the day just finished.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the June 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that the SENCo worked with staff and other professionals to arrange early and continuing help, but asked for calmer interactions and more balanced attention so children had better opportunities to think and respond. This is the central care question for families whose children need time, quiet or encouragement to join in.

During June 2023, staff supported everyday independence through eating, clearing plates, using tissues and handwashing. The nursery also helps children prepare for the change to their selected school. That work concerns understanding a new stage and becoming ready for it.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across 52 weeks, with Bank Holidays as the closures. Flexible hours within the day accommodate differing working patterns. Before and After School Clubs provide wraparound care, including age-appropriate activities, a quiet reading space and help with homework.

Telephone and email enquiries go directly to the nursery. Free settling-in sessions, no deposit and no administration charge reduce the initial steps involved in joining.

Getting There

The address is 207 Streetly Road, Birmingham, B23 7AH, near Erdington High street. Bus routes TWM 28, 11 and 65 serve the area, giving families public transport options alongside walking.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare includes 15-hour support for eligible two-year-olds, 15 hours for three- and four-year-olds, and 30-hour provision for eligible working families with two-, three- or four-year-old children. Funded hours can be stretched across 52 weeks, spreading attendance through the year with fewer hours each week.

Private fees include meals and snacks, plus consumables such as wipes, nappy sacks and sun cream; food includes breakfast, a cooked lunch and tea. Local outings are included too, while funding covers childcare alone, so families should distinguish the funded childcare element from the broader private-fee package.

Current prices come in the nursery’s written quotation. The fees and funding page explains the charge structure and the option to stretch funded hours.

• Thinking time and quieter children. The June 2023 findings raised hurried questioning, noise and uneven adult attention. On a visit, ask how staff now give quieter children space to respond and participate.
• Funded hours and the wider package. Private fees include food, consumables and local outings, while funding covers childcare alone. Ask for a written breakdown showing how those items apply to your proposed attendance.
• The youngest children. A Baby Unit and under-two soft play area support a separate early-years experience. Ask how settling sessions, rest and daily care are organised for your baby.

Kids Place suits families seeking flexible hours within the nursery day and those using Before and After School Clubs for wraparound care. Loose Parts, creative materials, the garden and park outings give its offer substance beyond an opening-hours promise.

The June 2023 Good judgement provides a positive inspection foundation, with clear reservations about calm interaction and the attention quieter children received. For a family deciding between settings, that balance matters: practical flexibility and varied play are strengths, while the way adults make room for each child deserves close attention.