Kids Planet Solihull

Language, everyday independence and a move towards Hatchford preschool give Kids Planet Solihull its character. This Old Lode Lane setting has 40 places in total and accepts children aged 3 to 60 months. Its current emphasis is on babies and young children, with collaboration across the two settings intended to keep relationships familiar when children move into preschool.

At the 20 May 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, identifying communication as a teaching strength and finding that children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), made good progress. The detail matters more than the grade: conversations, stories and songs were used to extend language, while practical routines helped children become more independent.

Full days, mornings, afternoons and short days provide different attendance options. Two improvement priorities from May 2024 deserve attention alongside the strengths: more carefully matched activities for older babies and more consistent explanations of behaviour expectations.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care. In everyday terms, learning combines play, conversation, movement and practical tasks rather than being confined to a formal teaching session.

In May 2024, staff used books, singing and conversation to develop communication, introducing unfamiliar vocabulary and explaining its meaning. Mathematical learning included recognising shapes and numbers, counting and working through simple problems. These were useful foundations for children learning to express an idea or understand how things fit together.

Observations and assessments helped staff decide what children needed to learn next. Individual help and sessions with a small group were used when gaps emerged. The important qualification was in the baby room: activities sometimes failed to stretch its older children sufficiently, leaving them less interested. For a child approaching the next developmental stage, matching the challenge to their abilities matters as much as offering an attractive activity.

Outdoor and Community Life

Outdoor play had a practical physical purpose in May 2024. Children climbed adventure play equipment and tackled an obstacle course, practising coordination and balance through movement. These are concrete experiences, with a different demand from sitting with a book or joining a conversation.

The current group-wide outdoor approach, also used in Solihull's offer, includes exploring wildlife, growing vegetables and active play. Those examples connect nature with things children can investigate and do. They also sit alongside the branch's sports activities, giving physical development a place in the day.

Hatchford preschool is the named next step in the nursery's current offer. The two settings work closely together, with familiar faces and a shared learning approach intended to support the move. This is a transition between childcare settings; it should be considered separately from the later move into school.

Relationships and Communication

In May 2024, babies approached staff for comfort when tired or upset, and practitioners showed interest in children's conversations. The care was expressed through ordinary interactions: listening, encouragement and responding when a child needed closeness. For families leaving a baby in someone else's care, those details are more useful than broad promises about atmosphere.

Independence developed through daily routines. During May 2024, babies practised feeding themselves and cleaning their faces, while older children helped themselves at lunch and managed personal care. Staff deployment matched children's needs at that visit. These observations describe practice at the time, rather than a current staffing count.

Famly, the group-wide parent app included in Solihull's offer, provides updates during the day. In May 2024, parents also received feedback about learning and ideas for activities at home, connecting nursery experiences with family life.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At its May 2024 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and SEND support effective, with the special educational needs coordinator arranging referrals and working with specialists on targeted help. Additional funding was considered jointly with staff, parents and other professionals, so support could address a child's particular needs.

Health learning was practical too. In May 2024, children learned about caring for teeth, drinking enough and the benefits of exercise. Freshly prepared meals and snacks are part of the current offer, with dietary requirements catered for.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is 773 Old Lode Lane, Solihull, B92 8JE. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across 52 weeks, with bank holidays excluded.

A Full Day runs from 7.30am to 6pm, a Morning from 8am to 1pm, and an afternoon session from 1pm to 6pm. The Short Day runs from 9am to 3pm. Full Time is another booking option with the same daily hours as Full Day, and ad hoc hourly care is also offered. Families can therefore compare a shorter daytime arrangement with morning, afternoon or whole-day attendance.

Enquiries can be made by telephone on 0121 7222980 or by email at solihull@kidsplanetdaynurseries.co.uk. A tour booking route and an application route are provided.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare and privately paid sessions are offered. The charge structure distinguishes privately paid attendance from days on which early years funding is applied, which makes the final booking pattern important to the household budget.

For privately paid attendance, meals and snacks are included in the fee, as are wipes, nappies, sun cream and formula. On days using early years funding, meals, consumables and activities attract separate charges, with different charging bands for shorter and longer attendance. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

• Older babies' next steps. In May 2024, some activities did not sufficiently extend learning for the older children in the baby room. During a tour, ask how activities now change as babies become more capable and ready for greater challenge.
• Behaviour guidance. May 2024 brought an improvement priority around explaining expectations and how behaviour affects other children. Ask for a practical example of how staff handle disagreements or help a child understand a boundary.
• The preschool move. Collaboration with Hatchford preschool is part of the current offer. Discuss when a move is proposed and how familiar staff support your child's transition.
• Funded-day budgeting. Meals, activities and consumables are charged separately on days using funding. A written quotation should distinguish these charges from privately paid hours for your chosen sessions.

Kids Planet Solihull suits families comparing morning or afternoon attendance with short days and full days, especially those considering its linked move into Hatchford preschool. Communication, practical independence and responsive relationships were meaningful strengths in May 2024. The improvement priorities keep the judgement balanced: older babies need enough challenge, and children need consistent help understanding boundaries. Those are the most useful points to explore alongside the attendance pattern and funded-day costs.