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Nursery at Bilston Nursery School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Water play, outdoor role play and imaginary journeys to dinosaur land give Bilston Nursery School its character: learning starts with things children want to explore. This is a local authority maintained nursery school on Wolverhampton Street, offering places for children aged two, three and four, rather than a nursery classroom within a primary school.
Qualified teachers work alongside staff trained in early years education. The focus is on building language, confidence and independence through play. In May 2026, Ofsted identified outdoor learning as a strength, with activities that develop movement and understanding of the natural world.
A session has a recognisable rhythm. Welcome time brings children together with their key worker to practise listening, taking turns, early writing and number skills. Focus time follows children's developing needs: adults use their observations to plan group activities. Free Flow then gives children choices about resources and play, with support from staff across the nursery. Literacy Time makes books and reading a distinct part of the day.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework. In parent terms, learning combines communication, movement and emotional development with early mathematics, literacy, creativity and discovering how the world works. Staff also use Development Matters to understand each child's development and plan the next steps, rather than treating age bands as fixed boundaries.
Indoors and outside, spaces are arranged so children can explore with increasing independence. Water play and imaginative adventures sit alongside opportunities to investigate nature and develop physical skills. Adults extend conversations and give children time to work out ideas themselves. That makes play a route into language and problem solving, as well as enjoyment.
Key workers provide a familiar group connection at the beginning of the session. Children settle into predictable routines, while adults help them handle feelings, share resources and resolve disagreements. Care also builds practical independence: children receive support with dressing, tidying and looking after their belongings. Mealtimes are sociable and calm.
Support for special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) includes visual communication, sensory activities and interventions matched to individual needs. Staff work with families and outside professionals, and a SENCO can be contacted through the office. The Resource Base serves children with significant, complex needs who have an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP); its places are allocated by the council's SEND teams through that process, separately from mainstream nursery applications.
Family workshops, events and participation in trips connect home and nursery learning. Ofsted's May 2026 inspection confirmed that safeguarding standards were met, while asking leaders to evaluate the effects of their actions more systematically, especially for disadvantaged children. This matters when deciding which support and priorities make the greatest difference.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet the applicable deadline.
Transition support is a separate matter: leaders coordinate work with other settings and local schools. Daily practice with communication, managing feelings and personal independence also helps children prepare for their next stage.
Morning sessions run from 8:30am to 11:30am; afternoon sessions run from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. Booking patterns introduced in September 2024 include five mornings, five afternoons, or two full days paired as Monday and Tuesday or Wednesday and Thursday.
For three and four year olds, the universal funded offer is 15 hours. Eligible working parents can access 30 funded hours with a Childcare Choices code; families can also pay to add 15 hours to their funded place. The 30-hour pattern runs Monday to Thursday, 8:30am to 4pm. Friday wraparound is charged separately and is open to all parents, so families needing five-day care should account for that extra booking.
To register, contact the office on 01902 556491 or email office@bilstonnurseryschool.co.uk. Visits can also be arranged through the office. Contact the school for current charges.
It offers nursery places for children aged two, three and four.
Morning sessions run from 8:30am to 11:30am, and afternoon sessions from 12:30pm to 3:30pm.
Eligible working parents can access 30 funded hours with a Childcare Choices code. Families can also pay for additional hours. The 30-hour pattern runs Monday to Thursday, 8:30am to 4pm, with separately charged Friday wraparound.
No. Reception requires a separate application through the normal admissions process.
The council's SEND teams allocate Resource Base places through the EHCP process. Applying directly to the nursery is a route to a mainstream place, rather than a specialist Resource Base place.
