Wylde Green Nursery

Electricity made with a lemon and a potato gives a flavour of Wylde Green Nursery’s learning in August 2022: practical experiments connected children’s curiosity with the jobs their parents did. This Sutton Coldfield nursery has capacity for 55 children aged 12 to 60 months.

At its August 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated Wylde Green Outstanding overall and found that children made excellent progress from their individual starting points. The strongest examples combined hands-on discovery with growing independence, rather than treating learning as a separate part of the day.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children’s learning, development and care: in parent terms, education and everyday care belong together, with play providing opportunities to develop skills.

In August 2022, science activities involved watching colours change and experimenting with milk and washing detergent. Staff introduced vocabulary as children explored, and children recalled earlier experiments. Fruit also became a painting resource, giving them different ways to investigate the same material.

When I grow up and Parent occupations were projects linking learning with family life; parents came in to explain their work, including an engineer demonstrating electricity. Home is where the heart is took children into the neighbourhood to explore houses and discuss different families. These examples made abstract ideas tangible through people and places children could recognise.

Indoor and outdoor spaces supported activities in August 2022. Children could choose their play, while staff adapted experiences around developing interests. The emphasis was on following curiosity and extending it through conversation and practical exploration.

At the August 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, with secure premises, careful supervision and staff who understood how to respond to welfare concerns. That judgement belongs to the dated inspection.

In August 2022, parents contributed to assessments and discussed ways to continue learning at home. This gave staff information from family life as well as nursery activities, making communication a two-way exchange.

Independence had concrete jobs attached to it: children helped prepare lunch tables, served food and poured water in August 2022. They also practised clearing away and managing spills with support. Everyday routines became opportunities to do things for themselves.

School preparation in August 2022 included sharing reports, visits from teachers and pictures of children’s next school. A worry monster helped staff open conversations about feelings. The preparation addressed both practical familiarity and the emotions surrounding a change.

The address is 23-27 Green Lane, Wylde Green, Sutton Coldfield, B73 5JL. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and Christmas.

In August 2022, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. Children attended different sessions at that time.

• Learning beyond the grade. The August 2022 examples included neighbourhood walks and parent-led demonstrations. On a visit, ask how children’s current interests shape projects and practical experiments.
• Your child’s daily routine. Children enter from 12 months, and the opening window runs from 7.30am to 6pm. Discuss the booking pattern, settling arrangements and rest routine that would fit your child.
• Funding and the total bill. Funded early education was part of the offer in August 2022. Request a current written quotation covering your attendance pattern, funded hours, meals and consumables together.

Wylde Green merits consideration for families who value practical discovery and opportunities for children to become more independent. Its August 2022 examples connect experiments, family occupations and everyday responsibilities in a persuasive way. The Outstanding judgement is dated; the useful next step is seeing how that approach translates into the day your child would experience.