Teenie Blooms

A sensory room with changing lights and a bubble tube gives Teenie Blooms a memorable point of difference: in August 2022, children used it when they needed a quieter space. This Birmingham nursery has capacity for 96 children at Bertram Childrens Centre.

At the August 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and judged safeguarding effective. The children attending then were aged 1 to 8; that age range describes the children present at the time.

In August 2022, children's interests shaped play and the activities staff planned. Books led to storytelling with props, while adults joined play and introduced vocabulary. These were practical ways to connect conversation with something children already wanted to do.

The early years foundation stage sets requirements for children's learning, development and care, bringing play and everyday routines into their education. In August 2022, outdoor experiences included pedalling wheeled toys, playing hide and seek and testing paper planes. Children practised movement alongside turn-taking and persistence.

Teaching was also an improvement priority that month. A changed curriculum structure required staff to respond more spontaneously, and some lacked confidence with this approach. Further development of teaching skills was needed.

At its August 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities received effective support through collaboration between the special educational needs coordinator, staff, parents and other professionals, with plans tailored to individual needs.

In August 2022, care routines took account of home life, and younger children sought comfort from staff. Most practitioners were bilingual, helping children use their home languages and supporting conversations with parents.

Continuity needed attention. In August 2022, holiday arrangements and staffing changes sometimes left children without their allocated key person or another familiar adult. Strengthening that system was a specific improvement action, relevant to families whose children find changes difficult.

The address is Bertram Childrens Centre, 6 Bertram Road, Birmingham, B10 9QP.

In August 2022, the nursery operated Monday to Friday throughout the year, with hours from 7.30am to 6pm. Funded early education then covered two-, three- and four-year-olds. These are dated operating details rather than a description of today's booking terms.

• Continuity of care. Changes during holidays affected familiar-adult support in August 2022. At a visit, ask how key-person cover now works when staff change rooms or take leave.
• Teaching development. In August 2022, some staff were still building confidence with spontaneous curriculum planning. Ask how professional development supports that work now.

Teenie Blooms merits consideration by families interested in child-led play and support for home languages. Its August 2022 picture combines concrete learning experiences with two useful cautions: teaching confidence and continuity of care. Those priorities give families a clear basis for assessing whether the nursery suits their child.