The Sanctuary Day Nursery

Dinosaurs in gloop, sunflower measuring and hatching chicken eggs give The Sanctuary Day Nursery a practical, hands-on character. These were part of children's experiences in June 2025, with interests in play shaping what staff introduced next.

The Sutton Coldfield setting accepts children from birth to five. Ofsted rated it Good at its 12 June 2025 inspection. The strongest thread through the activities was the connection between conversation, exploration and everyday tasks.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning and care, with play providing opportunities to develop language, number skills and relationships. In June 2025, staff used children's interests to introduce ideas: dinosaur play involved a book, naming and questions rather than simply handling the toys.

Mathematics also had a practical form. Younger children scooped sand and considered whether containers were full or empty; older children compared sunflower heights. These examples show how number and measurement could become part of an activity children already wanted to do.

Music sessions led by a music teacher gave children opportunities to sing together and try words in their play. Exploration of cultures and festivals added another strand. These were regular music sessions, rather than a stated weekly timetable.

In June 2025, children watered plants using spray bottles and helped care for incubating chicken eggs before they hatched. Trips included the library and post office. That combination brought living things and familiar community services into children's experiences.

At its June 2025 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and positive support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), including work with families and professionals and goals tailored to children's development.

In June 2025, staff used sand timers to make waiting understandable and emotion tools to help children name difficult feelings. Praise for kindness and guidance about taking turns gave children concrete ways to practise sharing space and play.

Parents had frequent conversations with staff about development, daily needs and ways to extend learning at home. The practical detail matters: communication covered both what a child needed that day and what they were learning next.

The address is 69 Whitehouse Common Road, Sutton Coldfield, B75 6EY. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and one week at Christmas.

In June 2025, the nursery provided funded early education for eligible children. That participation is a dated fact, rather than a guarantee of an individual family's entitlement or booking arrangement.

• Keeping children involved. In June 2025, staff sometimes missed signs that a child had lost interest, allowing learning opportunities to slip past. During a visit, ask how practitioners spot disengagement and adapt an activity.
• Sharper learning goals. Some next steps were too broad in June 2025. Families should look for concrete examples of how an individual child's next goal shapes play and staff interaction.
• Attendance planning. The weekday opening window runs from 7.30am to 6pm. Which booking pattern would accommodate your family's working hours?

The Sanctuary Day Nursery suits families who value practical exploration, conversation and experiences beyond indoor play. Its June 2025 activities connected books, music, growing plants and community trips with children's interests. The balance to weigh is the need for staff to respond more promptly when interest fades and to make individual learning goals more precise.