The Organic Explorers

In November 2024, an allotment, a forest school area and a travelling bear gave The Organic Explorers a recognisable character: outdoor discovery sat alongside imaginative play and links between nursery and home. In November 2024, these experiences included learning about seasonal changes, creating a monster from a box and taking the bear home to generate conversation back at nursery.

Ofsted rated the nursery Good on 4 November 2024 and judged safeguarding effective. It has capacity for 62 children in Solihull; children attending at that inspection were aged 0 to 4. Full-day and half-day care are offered, with different attendance conditions for the funded-care options.

Rooms and Ages

In November 2024, the baby room used cornflour and food ingredients for sensory exploration, supported by responsive exchanges with practitioners. The toddler room combined lentils, paint and sounds to build on children's recollections of fireworks. In the pre-school room, children collaborated on a box monster, cutting, sticking and discussing their ideas.

These examples show different starting points rather than an identical activity offered across the nursery. Babies explored texture and interaction, while older children had opportunities to make choices and work together. Each room's activities drew on children's interests.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care, with play supporting their growing communication, practical skills and understanding of the world. In November 2024, a book of the week helped shape activities, while children's interests also influenced what practitioners planned.

Language was woven into songs, everyday routines and play. The important qualification concerns quieter toddlers: staff did not consistently draw the least vocal children into group conversations. Having engaging materials is one part of the nursery experience; making space for each child to contribute is another.

Outdoor and Community Life

In November 2024, the forest school area and allotment provided opportunities to explore living things, seasonal change and life cycles. These physical spaces gave children concrete subjects to investigate beyond indoor activities.

Regular visits to an elderly residential home and visits from uniformed services also connected learning with the local community. Discussion of similarities, differences and the languages children spoke at home accompanied this work. The community experiences therefore extended beyond meeting visitors to considering other people's lives.

Settling is organised around the child and parent. Families initially spend time together at nursery, then gradually increase the time the child stays independently; the number of settling sessions follows what they need. This gives parents a role in shaping the transition rather than imposing one fixed timetable.

In November 2024, key people built close relationships with their assigned children, and sensory relaxation areas indoors and outside offered spaces to manage emotions. A lending library and the travelling bear connected nursery experiences with home: the bear's return created a reason for children to talk about what had happened away from nursery.

At its November 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that staff worked with parents to identify additional support needs, including SEND, and used additional funding to provide extra staff for children's safety and education. This is a dated finding about the support in place then, rather than a promise of any particular support package.

Food is cooked on site, with a vegetarian menu developed collaboratively by a nutritionist and chef and refreshed each half term. The allergy policy involves recording requirements and sharing them with kitchen and room staff; meals contain no nuts, but the nursery does not guarantee an environment free of specific allergens.

Sessions and Attendance

Full-day and half-day AM/PM sessions are offered. In November 2024, opening hours were 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across 50 weeks of the year.

Funded attendance has two routes. With the fully inclusive care package, hours can be spread across the year or taken in term time, with a minimum of two days each week. For families opting out of the consumable charge, government-funded hours are spread across 50 weeks with a minimum of three full days; the remaining portion of the third day is charged as additional time.

Getting There

The nursery's address is The Sixth Form College Solihull, Widney Manor Road, Solihull, B91 3WR. Its contact address uses School Bungalow on the same road, with postcode B91 3JG. The enquiry route is an online contact form or telephone on 0121 709 2124.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare and additional paid hours are offered. The fees and funding information sets out the two package choices; current prices should be obtained in a written quotation.

For funded hours, meals and non-food consumables are covered by a separate, non-mandatory package charge. It includes food and drinks alongside nappies, wipes and cream, plus outings; the package for funded hours for three- and four-year-olds also includes baking classes and seasonal activities.

Opting out means providing a lunch box that follows the nursery's policy, together with nappies and wipes. Trips and activities then carry separate charges if families choose to participate. Infant formula is supplied by parents. The practical choice is between paying for the package and organising the specified items from home, with optional participation costs considered separately.

• Quieter toddlers. In November 2024, encouragement to speak during group activities was inconsistent for the least vocal children. During a visit, ask how practitioners now help a child who prefers to watch before joining in.
• Teaching development. The November 2024 improvement actions included more precise professional development for individual staff. Ask how training needs are identified and followed through across the rooms.
• Funded attendance choices. The inclusive package and opt-out route have different minimum attendance conditions, and the latter includes paid time within the third day. Compare the complete written quotation against the days your family needs.
• Address and allergies. Two postcodes are used for the Widney Manor Road setting, and the allergy policy does not guarantee an allergen-free environment. Confirm the visit destination and, where relevant, your child's current dietary arrangements before attending.

The Organic Explorers suits families considering either full-day care or half-day AM/PM sessions. Its November 2024 inspection picture will interest those who value child-led creative activities and outdoor exploration. Its November 2024 strengths included imaginative pre-school experiences, community contact and relationships with families. The balance is clear: quieter toddlers' participation and the precision of staff development needed attention. For funded attendance, the package choice deserves careful comparison because it changes both what parents provide and the minimum booking pattern.