Little Sunflowers Nursery

Flour to explore, brick towers to topple and stories to concentrate on: Little Sunflowers Nursery's November 2023 daily life combined sensory discovery with growing independence. At its 2 November 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good.

The Beacon Road setting in Great Barr, Birmingham accepts children aged 3 to 60 months and has 104 places in total. That is whole-nursery capacity, rather than the size of an individual group.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, its practical expression in November 2023 included exploring materials, listening to stories and learning to manage everyday tasks.

In November 2023, babies investigated flour through touch, while toddlers built brick towers and enjoyed knocking them down. Preschool children listened to stories in small groups, practising sustained attention. These were different experiences for different stages of development, rather than one activity shared across every age.

Staff used observations and assessments to decide what children needed to learn next. There was a clear limitation: adults sometimes supplied the answer to their own question before children could respond. Giving children space to contribute their ideas was the improvement required.

At the November 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, SEND support good and children making good progress, including those learning English as an additional language. The practical support included time individually with staff during the week and collaboration with other professionals.

In November 2023, staff offered comfort when children needed it, and children settled readily after separating from parents. Sharing resources, taking turns and helping tidy away toys formed part of everyday social learning. Babies practised using a spoon; older children helped prepare tables and served their food, giving independence a practical purpose.

Daily conversations and an electronic application connected parents with nursery life in November 2023. The application also carried ideas for continuing learning at home. Staff had training opportunities and supervision meetings to discuss their work and children's development.

The nursery garden provided exercise and fresh air in November 2023. Meals accommodated individual dietary needs, while reminders about handwashing and using tissues supported everyday hygiene.

The address is Beacon Road, Pheasey, Great Barr, Birmingham, B43 7BW. Opening hours are 7.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and one week at Christmas. Those hours describe the opening window rather than a particular booking pattern.

In November 2023, the nursery provided funded early education for two- and three-year-old children. That is a dated account of its funding provision, rather than a promise about an individual child's entitlement.

• Time to think. In November 2023, adults sometimes answered questions before children could contribute. During a visit, look at how staff pause and make room for children's own responses.
• Attendance and funding. The opening window runs from 7.30am to 5.30pm, while the funding account dates to November 2023. Which attendance pattern and funded-hours package would apply to your child?

Little Sunflowers Nursery suits families seeking weekday care across the year, with an opening window ending at 5.30pm. Its November 2023 strengths were concrete: sensory exploration, everyday independence and communication between staff and parents. The question of how adults give children time to answer deserves attention alongside those strengths.