Birches Green Primary School Nursery

Messy food play, children choosing their own activities and learning outdoors give Birches Green’s nursery its practical character. This is the nursery provision within Birches Green Primary School in Erdington, Birmingham, with an early years approach that combines play with adult-led teaching. Children have space to pursue an interest as well as take part in planned learning.

The school has no Ofsted graded rating yet. Its approach to early education centres on children’s individual starting points, with learning adapted to their needs and interests.

Play and focused teaching sit alongside one another. Nursery children take part in activities planned by adults, choose activities themselves and have free-flow opportunities across indoor and outdoor provision. That gives the day a mixture of direction and choice: children can explore an idea independently, then work on a particular skill with an adult.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework, with Development Matters 2021 used for curriculum planning alongside school-specific additions. In parent language, learning brings together communication, physical development and relationships with early literacy, mathematics, creative work and understanding the world. The school aims to develop independence and enthusiasm, taking account of what each child can already do.

There is concrete activity behind that approach. Early years art includes experimenting with colour and materials, making marks and moulding shapes. These give children ways to explore materials and express ideas. Books and poems support interest in reading; number activities include counting and exploring shape and measurement.

Music, dance and role-play also form part of early years learning. Food is used for messy play, adding another material for children to investigate. Indoor and outdoor learning spaces support exploration and problem-solving rather than confining these experiences to a single type of activity.

Individual needs are considered when children join. Across the school, support follows a graduated approach, moving from adapted classroom teaching to targeted intervention and specialist provision. For families whose child needs additional help, this provides a structure for matching support to their needs.

WellComm is used with all children in EYFS, bringing speech and language into the assessment picture. Development Matters supports early years assessment, while the school uses The Thrive Approach for social and emotional development. These are distinct parts of understanding a child’s learning and wellbeing.

Children with SEND have either an individual target plan or a one-page profile covering their strengths, difficulties, aspirations and required provision. Profiles are shared with parents for comments, reviewed each term and accessible to staff working directly with the child. Parents therefore have a defined opportunity to contribute to the support picture.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet the normal deadline. Treat the nursery choice and the Reception application as separate decisions; joining nursery should not be taken as confirmation of a later school place.

The school is on Birches Green Road, Erdington, Birmingham, B24 9SR. Nursery enquiries can be made through the school on 0121 4644310 or at enquiry@birchesgreen.co.uk.

For SEND enquiries, the SENCO can be contacted at senco@birchesgreen.co.uk or on 0121 464 4310. The school aims to respond within five working days, so allow time for that conversation when planning your child’s start.