The Old Station Nursery Bromsgrove

Sensory play gives Bromsgrove's Old Station Nursery a recognisable character: Messy Hands Wednesday brings finger painting, dough and texture exploration into Stay and Play sessions. The setting occupies The Old Courthouse and accepts children aged 2 to 60 months, with capacity for 57 children in total.

At its June 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, found that children including those with special educational needs and disabilities made good progress, and judged safeguarding effective. That is a dated judgement: a September 2025 supervision breach is material to the choice families make today.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets out requirements for children's learning, development and care, connecting learning through play with the next steps in each child's development. In June 2022, activities were planned around children's interests and what they were ready to learn next. Staff used observations to decide how to extend learning.

The age differences were visible in the activities. In June 2022, babies experimented with bubbles, while toddlers searched through shredded paper for hidden animals. Older children helped organise a celebration. These examples show how exploration could become more purposeful as children developed: sensory discovery for younger children, with planning and remembering added for preschool children.

Messy Hands Wednesday was launched in October 2024 as a weekly Stay and Play activity. Its painting, dough play and exploration of textures give children practical ways to experiment with materials, with parents and caregivers involved. The emphasis is on imaginative play and practising fine motor skills.

Rooms and Ages

A July 2024 refresh covered the baby room, toddler space and pre-school room. Changes included paint, comfortable furniture and rearranged play areas, with quiet reading and imaginative play among the uses described. That gives the physical environment a balance between quieter activity and more exploratory play.

Outdoor and Community Life

In June 2022, low furniture helped babies practise pulling themselves upright, and toddlers used an outdoor climbing frame. Older children played movement games. Outdoor organisation also needed attention: mixing children in larger groups did not consistently accommodate the youngest children's needs. For a family choosing baby care, how outdoor time is organised deserves as much attention as the equipment itself.

In June 2022, children had a key person, and parents received daily conversations alongside digital learning updates containing photographs and observations. Staff also gathered information about interests and life at home. Those exchanges linked the nursery day with what mattered to each child beyond it.

Support mechanisms in June 2022 included listening to parental concerns, seeking advice and working with the local authority when additional help was needed. Staff incorporated words from children's home languages into activities. Health learning included conversations about toothbrushing and stories about dental visits, making everyday care part of children's learning.

Staff development was an improvement point in June 2022. New practitioners and those taking on leadership responsibilities needed continuing supervision, training and support. This matters because planning a child's next steps depends on practitioners being supported to put their knowledge into practice.

In its compliance outcome dated 17 September 2025, Ofsted recorded that a child had accidentally remained inside briefly during a fire drill, breaching supervision requirements. The nursery had notified the incident, meeting its notification responsibility; that notification does not cancel the supervision failure.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is The Old Courthouse, 11-13 Ednall Lane, Bromsgrove, B60 2DF. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, throughout the year except bank holidays. The opening window is useful for assessing whether the nursery fits around work and other family commitments.

In June 2022, the nursery's session times ran from 7.30am to 6pm. These describe attendance at that visit, rather than establishing a current choice of booking patterns.

Funding and Paid Extras

In June 2022, funded early education was provided for children aged two, three and four. Current prices should come in the nursery's written quotation, so the cost assessment relates to the attendance arrangement a family actually chooses.

• Fire-drill supervision. The 17 September 2025 outcome records a child being left inside briefly during a drill. At a visit, ask how evacuation checks and responsibility for each child now work.
• Outdoor time for babies. In June 2022, larger mixed groups outdoors did not consistently meet the youngest children's needs. Ask to see how baby outdoor play is organised today.
• The attendance quotation. The nursery opens throughout the year except bank holidays. Request a written quotation covering your intended sessions, funded hours, meals and non-food consumables before committing.

This setting suits families seeking year-round nursery care and hands-on sensory activities, with Messy Hands Wednesday offering a concrete example of its play-based character. The June 2022 assessment provides a positive historical picture, but the September 2025 supervision breach carries substantial weight. A decision should give practical evacuation procedures and the organisation of baby outdoor time close attention.