The Little Sutton Club

In October 2024, an indoor climbing frame, acorn painting and children practising feeding themselves gave The Little Sutton Club's day a practical, hands-on character. Based at Harvest Fields Centre in Sutton Coldfield, it has 21 places in total. Small everyday tasks feature strongly in its inspection-era account of care.

At its October 2024 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Good overall and its safeguarding arrangements effective, while requiring information needed for trustee suitability checks. Children attending then were aged one to two. That age range describes the children present at the time, rather than a current admissions limit.

In October 2024, play included puzzles, painting with acorns and a ball pit. A low-level indoor climbing frame gave children opportunities to practise climbing and sliding with staff nearby. These were concrete opportunities to develop movement and coordination, alongside quieter activities requiring concentration.

The early years foundation stage sets requirements for children's learning, development and care. Here, the October 2024 examples show learning through play and everyday routines: children threaded materials through holes, chose books and talked about pictures. Staff helped with the movements involved in threading and encouraged children to keep trying when it proved difficult.

Story time gave children an active part. In October 2024, younger children named animals in books, while questions about pumpkins encouraged discussion. Children's interests also shaped themes and festival activities, connecting planned learning with things that already caught their attention.

In October 2024, staff helped children practise handwashing, putting belongings away and tidying after play. At meals, children were encouraged to use spoons themselves; snacks also created opportunities to hear descriptive language. Food and care routines therefore contributed to independence as well as meeting immediate needs.

Sleep and outdoor supervision received practical attention that month. Staff checked sleeping babies regularly and increased adult deployment outdoors. Families also received strategies for supporting behaviour at home, giving them something concrete to use beyond nursery hours; leaders had undertaken autism training and liaised with the local authority.

The October 2024 inspection identified missing trustee information that prevented Ofsted from completing suitability checks, required it by 18 November 2024, and stated that the trustees had no contact with children, making the impact minimal. This is the latest published position on that requirement. Separately, the October 2024 improvement priorities concerned coaching for staff with leadership duties and checking how training changed practice.

The address is Harvest Fields Centre, Harvest Fields Way, Sutton Coldfield, B75 5TJ. In October 2024, opening hours were 7.45am to 5.45pm, Monday to Friday, throughout the year.

At that time, the setting provided funded early education for children between nine months and two years. This is a dated account of participation, rather than a promise about a family's entitlement or attendance arrangement.

• Trustee checks. The October 2024 requirement concerned information needed for suitability checks, with a November 2024 deadline. Families should distinguish that dated finding from an established outcome.
• Leadership development. In October 2024, coaching and the follow-through from staff training needed further attention. These priorities matter because they concern how leaders support consistent practice.
• Planning a visit. With the October 2024 account centred on very young children and year-round opening, ask which current age range and booking pattern would fit your child.

For families who value practical independence, the October 2024 account offers useful detail: children handled spoons, selected stories and tackled physical play with staff support. The Good judgement provides a dated quality assessment. The trustee-information requirement and leadership-development priorities also belong in the decision, alongside those everyday strengths.