Footsteps Canwell Nursery & Pre-School

A woodland space and a sheltered forest school classroom give Footsteps Canwell Nursery & Pre-School its clearest character: children have room to explore nature, with a base for outdoor learning when the weather changes. Each age group also has an outdoor area of its own. For families who want nature to feature in an ordinary nursery day, these are substantial practical assets.

The nursery accepts children from three months to 60 months at Old London Road in Canwell, Sutton Coldfield. At its 5 October 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good overall. That judgement belongs to that visit; the current offer combines play-based learning, age-appropriate groups and daily opportunities to explore outdoors.

Full-day, morning and afternoon bookings provide different ways to organise attendance, subject to a minimum weekly booking that includes Monday or Friday.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage guides learning through play, with experiences designed to support children's development. At Canwell, physical development, communication and social interaction receive emphasis within that framework. This gives everyday play a purpose beyond keeping children occupied.

The group-wide curriculum commitments include Confident Communicators, supporting children's expression, and Explorers of Our World, connecting learning with nature. A transition overview is shared with parents when a child finishes their time in a room. That creates a point to discuss what the child has learned before the next stage, rather than treating a room move solely as a change of surroundings.

In October 2023, books, singing and rhymes were used to develop language and early literacy. Toddlers explored lift-the-flap books, imitated animal sounds and began connecting pictures with meaning. Babies' learning included selected words for staff to reinforce. These examples show how communication could be woven into play rather than confined to a group activity.

There were weaknesses too. In October 2023, observations of children's achievements were not used fully enough to shape teaching for each child. Younger children's routines could also take precedence over their choices, leaving some less involved in play. Those findings matter most when considering how staff respond to a child's changing interests during the day.

Outdoor and Community Life

The forest school approach gives children daily opportunities to explore nature through practical play. A large woodland space complements the separate outdoor areas, while the forest school classroom provides shelter. Seasonal experiences may involve building dens, playing with mud and supervised activity around a fire pit. The setting offers more than a garden break: outdoor space forms part of the learning offer.

In October 2023, the outdoor role-play kitchen supported preschool children's imaginative play. A tree-mounted swing and obstacle courses gave children opportunities to practise movement and judge the space around them. Manipulating dough and using tools helped develop hand strength. Together, those examples show physical activity at different scales, from whole-body movement to controlled work with the hands.

Relationships and Communication

Key carers build relationships with children, and routines are organised around individual needs. The practical value is familiarity: care can take account of the child rather than relying only on a timetable. Communication with families and the transition overview provide ways to connect daily care with development.

In October 2023, children had consistent key persons and formed close relationships with staff. Families received information about learning, routines and everyday care, and the manager created opportunities for parents to participate in their child's education. These arrangements gave parents more to discuss than whether their child had eaten or slept.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the October 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and praised support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, including prompt referrals and development plans coordinated with parents, staff and health professionals. The concrete mechanism was a special educational needs coordinator bringing those contributions together.

Meals are cooked fresh on site each day with seasonal ingredients. Food is included in private-session fees, while meals during funded hours are charged separately through the optional Essentials Package; this distinction matters when comparing the total cost of attendance.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday. The standard Full Day runs from 8am to 6pm; Morning bookings run from 8am to 1pm, and Afternoon bookings from 1pm to 6pm. The opening window and these booking times are different, so the standard day should not be treated as covering the entire opening period.

The weekly minimum is either four morning or afternoon sessions, or two full days, and the booking must include Monday or Friday. This is a meaningful constraint for families arranging attendance around work or other commitments. The nursery operates for 51 weeks, closing on public holidays and for a Christmas week.

Payments are made monthly in advance, with Direct Debit, vouchers and Tax Free Childcare accepted. Permanent session changes and cancellations require one calendar month's notice. Charges continue on bank holidays, and sickness or holidays do not attract credits, refunds or replacement sessions.

Getting There

The address is Old London Road, Canwell, Sutton Coldfield, B75 5SD. Onsite Parking provides a practical option for collection and drop-off.

The nursery offers an enquiry route and contact through WhatsApp. Telephone and email contact are also available.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered for children aged nine months to four years, with the 15-hour and 30-hour entitlements stretched across the nursery's operating weeks. The standard stretched allocations are 11.18 and 22.35 hours per week respectively. The nursery also accepts 2 Help funding. Funded hours can be used alone or combined with paid attendance, so eligibility for funding and the cost of additional hours remain separate questions.

Private fees are all-inclusive, covering food and non-food consumables. During funded hours, meals, consumables and enrichment are separately charged through the Essentials Package. Its consumables include wipes, nappies, nappy bags, cream and suncream. Families can opt out by contacting the manager before term begins; suitable alternatives or arrangements for disposing of consumables may then be required under nursery policy.

The group-wide Enrichment Programme covers additional experiences beyond the standard early-years curriculum, with the specific activities varying. Its funded-hours charge is part of the optional package. A registration charge and a deposit apply, both waived for fully funded places; otherwise, the deposit is credited against the final invoice. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

• Monday or Friday attendance. The minimum booking must include one of these days. Families needing only midweek care should weigh that requirement against their intended pattern.
• Younger children's choices. In October 2023, routines sometimes restricted children's decisions, and teaching needed closer links to individual achievements. On a visit, ask how a younger child's interests now shape activities and changes to the daily routine.
• Funded-hours extras. The Essentials Package separates meals, consumables and enrichment from funded education. Before choosing whether to opt out, discuss the alternatives required for your child's booked sessions.

Canwell suits families seeking nature-based play alongside either full-day attendance or morning and afternoon sessions, provided the minimum booking and Monday-or-Friday requirement fit. The woodland space, sheltered classroom and separate outdoor areas give that choice substance. The October 2023 learning concerns make responsiveness to younger children an important consideration, while the distinction between private fees and funded-hours extras deserves equal attention.