Footsteps Fazeley Nursery & Pre-School

Four garden spaces and a converted barn complex give Footsteps Fazeley its character. Outdoor learning has a substantial place here: onsite Forest School facilities sit alongside the gardens, while views towards the Fazeley canal connect the surroundings with the natural world. For a child who enjoys exploring outdoors, that is a concrete reason to consider this setting.

The nursery accepts children from 3 to 60 months at Bonehill Mews in Tamworth. Ofsted rated it Good on 12 September 2023. That dated judgement provides a useful starting point, while the current offer centres on play, outdoor exploration and a key person for each child.

Full days, mornings and afternoons are sold, with early-start and late-finish additions. The minimum booking includes either Monday or Friday, an important detail for families arranging childcare around work.

Learning and Activities

Learning follows the Early Years Foundation Stage, with play and children's curiosity shaping activities. In practical terms, exploration is part of learning rather than a break from it: children investigate their surroundings, develop communication and build independence through what they do.

Forest School adds regular sessions in a natural setting, where children explore, make choices and tackle problems outdoors. Climbing, balancing and moving over different terrain are part of the approach. Its value for families is the repeated opportunity to use the outdoor environment for learning, rather than treating the garden solely as somewhere to run around.

In September 2023, babies shared books, songs and rhymes with staff, while toddlers used dolls in pretend play. Older children searched for worms for a wormery in the forest school area. These were different ways into learning: close interaction for the youngest, imaginative play for toddlers and investigation for older children.

Language also ran through the day in September 2023. Staff used conversation alongside books and songs, encouraging children to contribute ideas and explore new vocabulary. The important distinction is that talking was woven into activities, rather than confined to a single group session.

Outdoor and Community Life

The four garden spaces provide different environments for exploration, and the onsite Forest School facilities give outdoor learning a defined place. Views of the Fazeley canal and visits from local wildlife add interest to the surroundings. Children have opportunities to engage with the local community too.

Inside, rooms are air-conditioned. That is a practical comfort feature across the year, alongside the barn setting's character. The strongest reason to choose the environment remains its combination of indoor play and several outdoor spaces, rather than the building alone.

Relationships and Communication

Every child has a Key Person, serving as their principal caregiver and the family's main contact. This gives parents a clear relationship through which to share information about their child. Regular communication keeps families involved in nursery life.

In September 2023, babies received physical comfort when they needed reassurance, and staff helped children build relationships during play. Moves between rooms followed developmental readiness, with encouragement from key persons. For parents, this is a useful distinction: progression between rooms was connected to the child rather than simply treated as a birthday milestone.

Independence developed through small daily tasks in September 2023. Toddlers helped put toys away before eating, and preschool children cleared their own tableware afterwards. These ordinary routines gave children opportunities to contribute and practise doing things for themselves.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the September 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and appropriate support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, with the special educational needs coordinator working alongside staff and other professionals. The support mechanism matters: additional needs were addressed through coordination with people involved in the child's care and development.

Meals are made fresh on the premises each day using seasonal ingredients. Food and non-food consumables are included within private session fees; during funded hours, both are charged separately through an optional package. This distinction affects the family's bill even when the attendance pattern is the same.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Unit 1 Bonehill Mews, Lichfield Street, Tamworth, B78 3QS. Full Day attendance runs from 8am to 6pm, Morning from 8am to 1pm, and Afternoon from 1pm to 6pm. An Early Start covers 7.30am to 8am, while Late Finish extends attendance from 6pm to 6.30pm.

Bookings require at least four morning or afternoon sessions, or two full days, each week, including a Monday or Friday. That condition has real consequences for a family seeking only midweek care. The choice of shorter sessions is useful, but it still sits within a minimum weekly commitment.

The nursery operates for 51 weeks, closing for public holidays and a week at Christmas. Fees are collected monthly in advance, and one calendar month's notice is required for permanent session changes or cancellation. Normal charges apply on bank holidays; sickness and holidays do not attract credits, refunds or replacement sessions.

Onsite parking supports collection and drop-off. Enquiries can be made directly to the nursery, and tours can be booked.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered for children aged nine months to four years, including the 15-hour and 30-hour entitlements and 2 Help funding. The standard arrangement spreads entitlement across the operating year: the annual 570-hour allocation becomes 11.18 funded hours weekly, while 1,140 hours becomes 22.35. Families need to distinguish the entitlement's term-time headline from the weekly hours in this stretched arrangement.

Funded hours can stand alone or be combined with paid attendance. They can be used within the 8am to 6pm day, morning or afternoon patterns, subject to availability. Hours beyond the funded allocation are charged separately.

The Essentials Package separates food, consumables and enrichment during funded hours. It is optional, with opting out arranged before term starts; depending on nursery policy, parents may need to supply alternatives or handle disposal of consumables. Consumables include wipes, nappies, nappy bags, cream and suncream. Enrichment describes additional experiences beyond the standard curriculum, but its possible activities should not be read as a guaranteed timetable.

The registration charge and deposit are waived for fully funded places. Otherwise, the deposit is credited against the final invoice. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

• Concentration during learning. In September 2023, background sound and interruptions sometimes disrupted children's attention. During a tour, ask how quieter activities are organised alongside other play.
• The weekly commitment. Four shorter sessions or two full days are the minimum, including Monday or Friday. Families needing only Tuesday-to-Thursday attendance should weigh this condition before choosing a pattern.
• Funding and extras. The standard funded offer is stretched, with food, consumables and enrichment charged separately through the optional Essentials Package. Consider whether that package or the opt-out arrangements fit your family's routine.

Footsteps Fazeley suits families who value regular outdoor learning and want a choice between full days and morning or afternoon sessions. Its gardens, Forest School provision and key-person arrangement give that choice substance. The minimum booking and stretched funding model need to fit the household, and the September 2023 concern about distractions remains a sensible discussion point when assessing the learning environment.