Audley Primary School Nursery

Language and communication give Audley’s early years provision its clearest character. At the June 2023 inspection, these were a focus of learning, helping children build foundations for what comes next. The nursery belongs to Audley Primary School on Audley Road in Stechford, Birmingham. It has a nursery teacher within the school team.

Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good on 20 and 21 June 2023. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery inspection outcome.

Early learning puts communication alongside reading. In June 2023, children in early years had phonics teaching each day, supplemented by other reading activities. The emphasis was on developing reading skills and an interest in books. For parents, this gives a concrete picture of the early years learning priorities, rather than simply a promise of preparation for school.

EYFS means Early Years Foundation Stage. Audley’s early years framework brings together emotional and social development, movement and communication, alongside maths, literacy, creative expression and learning about the world. These areas connect learning with children’s development rather than treating reading as the whole purpose of early education.

Communication also features in Audley’s plans for accessibility. The school aims to use Makaton signing to accompany speech in EYFS and to embed WellComm. These are named elements of its intended support for communication, with the practical aim of helping children understand and express themselves.

For a child with additional needs, the class teacher and SEND co-ordinator are the starting points for a conversation. Audley can seek specialist input from speech and language therapists, educational psychologists and the school nurse when it is needed. This gives families a route from an initial concern to advice beyond the classroom.

Support follows a cycle of assessing needs, planning action, carrying it out and reviewing the effect. Across the school, children on the SEND register have their support reviewed three times a year, with parents involved and children’s views considered. Families receive copies of active learning plans, helping home and school work towards the same goals.

The school building includes a medical room for administering medication and disabled toilets. These are school facilities, rather than nursery-specific rooms. Their relevance is practical: medical needs and access can be discussed alongside a child’s learning needs.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place and gives no priority under Audley’s admission criteria. Families must make a separate application through the normal local authority process and meet that authority’s deadline. For Birmingham applications, the route is Birmingham City Council’s Reception application process.

When places are oversubscribed, priority goes to looked-after and previously looked-after children, then qualifying siblings, then children living closest to the school. Nursery attendance is separate from those criteria.

Transition support is a different question. Where appropriate, Audley can use a transition book or a social story with photographs of the new teacher to take home. Staff also share information and relevant paperwork so that support can continue. These arrangements help children prepare for a change; they do not affect admission priority.

Contact the school office on 0121 464 3139 or email enquiry@audley.drbignitemat.org for joining enquiries. Families discussing additional needs can also arrange a conversation with the SEND team through the office. Keep the nursery enquiry and the later Reception application as two separate steps.