Holly Trees Day Nursery

An indoor climbing frame gave babies a small but meaningful challenge at Holly Trees: in March 2024, staff encouraged them to climb, with a mirror at the top adding interest to the achievement. That practical emphasis on children doing things for themselves runs through the nursery’s inspection account.

Holly Trees Day Nursery is based at Holly Trees Children’s Centre, Mabey Avenue, Redditch, B98 8HW, and accepts children aged 3 to 60 months. At its March 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and judged safeguarding effective.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children’s learning, development and care, bringing learning through play together with everyday routines. In March 2024, children could choose between indoor and outdoor play, alongside activities organised by adults. This gave them opportunities both to follow their interests and to try something staff had planned.

Activities matched different stages of development: babies painted with brushes, toddlers shaped dough, and preschool children practised pencil control and early writing. The emphasis was practical. Children used their hands and had time to practise new skills.

In March 2024, preparation for forest school, an outdoor learning approach, also involved independence: preschool children practised doing up zips and putting on wellington boots. Toddlers fetched their coats when they wanted to go outdoors, while babies were learning to feed themselves.

At the March 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that children, including those with SEND, made good progress, with additional support strengthened by cooperation between staff, parents and other professionals and timely referrals coordinated by managers and the special educational needs coordinator.

In March 2024, children had close relationships with their key person. Staff comforted babies who were new to nursery and followed their individual routines, giving settling a familiar rhythm. Older children approached adults readily and brought them into their play.

Staff used reminders and praise to help children understand expectations. Regular supervision and training supported practitioners in their work. These were features of practice in March 2024, alongside conversations, songs and stories that gave children opportunities to develop language.

The nursery’s address includes St Stephens C Of E First School. Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place.

Opening hours are 8am to 6pm on weekdays, with provision across the year except bank holidays and a week at Christmas. In March 2024, the nursery also provided care before and after school; preschool provision and the after-school club used the host school’s premises during term time.

In March 2024, funded early education was offered for children aged two, three and four.

• Keeping activities engaging. In March 2024, interruptions sometimes disrupted adult-organised play. Improving its organisation was an identified priority, relevant to families who value sustained concentration.
• Developing language further. Staff sometimes missed opportunities to extend communication. The March 2024 improvement action concerned taking this support further, alongside the conversations, stories and songs already used.
• Planning attendance. How would a booking for your child fit the weekday opening hours and Christmas closure, and what would the written quotation include?

Holly Trees suits families seeking care for babies through to preschool age, with an inspection-era emphasis on practical independence and close key-person relationships. The March 2024 picture has clear strengths in support for additional needs, balanced by specific work to improve engagement during adult-organised activities and extend language development.