The Old Station Nursery Moseley

Small responsibilities gave children a big sense of achievement at Moseley in June 2023: older children took turns helping at lunchtime and leading the line, wearing badges for their roles. At its 20 June 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found that children made good progress and were prepared for their next stage of learning.

The Old Station Nursery Moseley has capacity for 73 children, accepting ages from 2 to 60 months. Its address is 106 Wake Green Road, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 9PZ.

The early years foundation stage covers children's learning, development and care. At Moseley in June 2023, this included developing language through familiar stories, practising balance on low beams and building independence through dressing.

In June 2023, younger children explored sound with drums, while toddlers joined in familiar stories and anticipated what came next. Older children met animals during a visiting zoo activity, taking turns to hold a snail and a centipede. These were concrete opportunities to listen, experiment and practise patience.

Outdoor exploration was equally hands-on that June. Children searched beneath leaves and twigs for insects, examining their finds with magnifying glasses and recalling their names. Low balance beams gave them a physical challenge; children tried again when balancing proved difficult.

Visits connected celebrations with places of worship in June 2023: a church for Harvest, a mosque for Eid and a temple for Diwali. Children also explored national dress and food from different countries, giving conversations about other people's beliefs something tangible to build on.

There were weaknesses alongside those experiences. In June 2023, a recently introduced planning system was being used unevenly by staff, so learning was not consistently taken further. Some activities also excluded children who wanted to join: toddlers were directed to tidy up while others played instruments.

At the June 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, identified strong communication with parents and described individual support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, backed by a knowledgeable special educational needs coordinator and staff training.

Daily exchanges in June 2023 covered children's activities and learning goals, helping parents continue learning at home. Children sought staff for comfort and companionship during play, and encouragement supported their willingness to attempt unfamiliar activities.

That June, children settled readily into daily routines and formed friendships as well as relationships with adults. Sharing and waiting for a turn were part of their social learning. The combination matters: comfort from a familiar adult and practice playing alongside friends address different parts of a young child's day. Children could seek reassurance, then take on something unfamiliar with encouragement.

Safeguarding practice in June 2023 included training, questions from the manager to reinforce staff understanding, and knowledge of where to raise concerns, including concerns about colleagues. Risk assessments were being applied during renovations. These were concrete procedures behind the dated safeguarding judgement, covering both recognition of concerns and how staff should respond. For children needing additional support, staff training was accompanied by action plans when issues arose, connecting adult learning with changes to children's care.

Preparation for school that June included visits for special events, teachers meeting children at nursery and staff passing on relevant information. Practising dressing independently and building confidence made the transition work practical, rather than simply talking about starting school. The work reached beyond an introduction to a new building: children practised managing personal tasks, while adults exchanged information about their learning. Those two strands gave preparation a useful balance between what children could do for themselves and what their next teachers needed to know.

The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6pm, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and Christmas. That opening window can matter for families balancing childcare with working hours.

In June 2023, session times ran from 7.30am to 6pm, and the nursery provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds.

• Extending learning. Uneven use of the new planning system was an improvement point in June 2023. During a visit, ask how staff now build on a child's interests and next steps.
• Joining activities. Some children missed activities they wanted to try in June 2023. Ask how group activities are organised so interested children can participate.

Moseley merits consideration by families who value practical independence, outdoor discovery and learning about different cultures. Those strengths were evident in June 2023, alongside specific weaknesses in planning and participation. Its weekday opening hours also suit parents whose routines need care beyond the middle of the day.