Mucky Pups Day Nursery, Olton

Tadpoles in the garden and stories turned into dough models give Mucky Pups Day Nursery, Olton a recognisable character: in July 2024, children explored living things and familiar stories through hands-on play. The garden now has learning zones following refurbishment, giving outdoor exploration a physical place in the nursery day.

At its 5 July 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective. The current age range is two to five, with 29 places in total. This is a smaller setting, but that whole-nursery capacity should not be read as the size of an individual group.

For families balancing childcare with work, the practical offer includes paid additional hours and the option to stretch 30-hour funding over 51 weeks.

Rooms and Ages

The toddler/pre-school room sits within a setting using the group's free-flow approach, which allows children of different ages to learn and play together. Mixed-age interaction is part of the arrangement here, rather than a day organised entirely around separate age groups.

Following refurbishment, the garden contains learning zones for outdoor play and exploration. In July 2024, children watched tadpoles there while learning how frogs develop. That example connects an idea about the natural world with something children could observe themselves.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care. In parent terms, learning includes play, communication, physical skills and growing independence, rather than being confined to formal teaching.

In July 2024, language ran through the activities: adults introduced new vocabulary during play and encouraged listening through stories and shared books. Children also shaped dough into characters from a favourite story, then added small decorations. One activity brought together storytelling, hand coordination and careful use of small objects.

The indoor layout had been changed by July 2024 to give children greater freedom to direct their play. Staff used observations to decide what children might learn next, alongside information families supplied when their children started. This connected planning with children's existing interests and abilities.

There were clear teaching priorities to address, too. In July 2024, children sometimes needed longer to think before answering adults' questions, while mathematical teaching needed to extend beyond the number and colour work already woven into play. These are useful points for parents who want to understand how everyday activities develop into more demanding learning.

In July 2024, adults helped children negotiate turns and resolve disagreements through explanations and examples of considerate behaviour. Independence received practical attention: older children managed handwashing and putting on jackets with support suited to what they could do. These small tasks matter because they give children repeated opportunities to take responsibility for themselves.

At the July 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that the special educational needs coordinator worked effectively with families and external agencies, using targets and interventions to help children with SEND make strong progress. For a family considering additional support, the important detail is the connection between assessment, planned help and work with people outside the nursery.

Communication also had a practical purpose in July 2024. Staff shared children's next learning steps with parents, and transition planning helped children with SEND move towards their next stage of education. The emphasis was on passing useful knowledge between the adults involved in a child's care.

At lunchtime in July 2024, adults sat alongside children and encouraged conversation, while discussing healthy eating. Meals were therefore also opportunities to practise social communication, rather than simply breaks between activities.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is 250 Lyndon Road, Solihull, B92 7QW. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year. These hours describe the nursery's opening window.

Additional paid hours can extend a child's attendance. Families using 30-hour funding can choose to spread it over 51 weeks, an arrangement that spreads funded childcare across more of the year. Stretching the entitlement changes how it is distributed; it should not be confused with extra paid hours.

Enquiries can be made by telephone on 0121 248 0038 or through the contact form.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare includes 15-hour and 30-hour arrangements. Snacks and drinks carry separate charges on those funded arrangements, while extra hours are charged separately. Families should obtain the nursery's current written quotation for their intended attendance pattern.

Contributions towards some events or activities may be requested, but parents choose whether to donate. These contributions are voluntary, so they should be distinguished from the charges for attendance and funded-hours snacks and drinks.

• Time to think. In July 2024, questioning sometimes moved ahead before children had enough time to formulate an answer. During a visit, ask how practitioners now give children space to develop their ideas.
• Mathematical challenge. July 2024 teaching needed to develop broader mathematical ideas alongside counting and colour work. Ask for an example of how activities extend a preschool child's understanding.
• Your complete childcare cost. Funded-hours snacks and drinks and additional attendance attract separate charges. Request one written breakdown that also explains the arrangements for meals and non-food consumables.

Mucky Pups suits families with children aged two to five who value mixed-age play and outdoor exploration, including those considering stretched 30-hour funding or paid additional attendance. The July 2024 examples give substance to its everyday learning: stories, practical independence and observation of living things. The decision should also take account of the two teaching priorities and the separate charges attached to funded attendance.