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Nursery at Bloomsbury 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Weekly Forest School, Makaton and a garden designed for movement give Bloomsbury's nursery provision a distinct character. This local authority maintained nursery school in Nechells, Birmingham, offers up to 192 part-time places for children aged two to four. Its provision is organised into Daisies for two- and three-year-olds and Sunflowers for three- and four-year-olds. This is a nursery school in its own right, with children moving elsewhere for primary education.
Play shapes the learning. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together children's communication, physical development and emotional relationships with early literacy, mathematics, creative expression and understanding of the world. Activities draw on children's interests and motivations, giving them room to experiment, make mistakes and try again. Daisies and Sunflowers each have their own core book selections.
The nursery garden has a landscaped layout intended to encourage movement and manageable risks. Every child takes part in Forest School each week, supported by a lead with a Level 3 Forest School qualification. Outdoors is a regular part of learning, rather than an occasional extra. Children's own accounts mention bikes, water play, painting, building and the house area: concrete ways to explore ideas through movement and make-believe.
Ofsted's findings from May 2023 describe skilled teaching, carefully ordered learning and adults who extend vocabulary while adjusting activities to children's needs. Children watched chicks hatch and followed caterpillars becoming butterflies, making changes in living things tangible. Songs, rhymes and repeated story phrases supported early reading; older children practised word sounds. Family time also helped children rehearse listening and learn to manage their feelings.
Each child has a keyworker who includes them in a family group and works with parents and other educators to identify learning needs. Qualified teachers, Early Years Educators and a special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) form the teaching and support structure. Home visits and parent consultations are part of family partnership, while the Parent App carries school information and events.
Makaton is used across the setting to support communication. The SENCo coordinates additional help and reviews with families and external professionals, including the Communication & Autism Team and Speech and Language Therapy. In May 2023, children needing SEND support were identified promptly, teaching was adapted successfully and safeguarding arrangements were effective. These findings give substance to the inclusion approach.
The school cook prepares meals from fresh ingredients. The menu excludes meat but includes fish, an important distinction for families choosing a vegetarian diet. Sessions include fruit and vegetable snacks, with milk and water accessible throughout. Tell the keyworker about dietary requirements or allergies. Free school meals depend on eligibility and are provided only for children aged three or older.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. Treat choosing this nursery and choosing a primary school as separate decisions.
For two- and three-year-olds, sessions run from 8:50am to 11:50am or 12:30pm to 3:30pm each day. Three- and four-year-olds can attend a 15-hour pattern covering Monday and Tuesday plus Wednesday morning, or Wednesday afternoon plus Thursday and Friday. Full days in those patterns run from 8:50am to 2:50pm. A morning option also has limited availability.
The nursery offers 15 funded hours from the term after a child's third birthday, alongside places for eligible two-year-olds. Eligible working families with three- or four-year-olds can access 30 hours, running from 8:50am to 2:50pm each day over 38 term-time weeks. Paid top-ups can extend part-time provision. Meals carry a separate charge, and a weekly School Fund contribution supports food ingredients, celebrations and trips. Contact the school for current charges.
Applications go to the office or enquiry@bloomsbury.bham.sch.uk; telephone 0121 464 2034. Visits are welcomed. Electronic gates and doors control access, and collection by someone unfamiliar to staff uses a password system. Give staff the collector's details in advance.
The nursery offers places for children aged two to four, with Daisies for ages two to three and Sunflowers for ages three to four.
Yes. Every child accesses weekly Forest School sessions, supported by a lead with a Level 3 Forest School qualification.
Cooked meals use fresh ingredients and exclude meat but can include fish. Fruit and vegetable snacks are provided during sessions, alongside milk and water. Inform the keyworker of allergies or dietary needs.
Yes. The nursery offers 15-hour provision and, for eligible working families with three- or four-year-olds, 30-hour term-time places. Eligible two-year-olds can also access funded provision. Paid top-ups are offered.
No. Reception requires a separate application through the normal admissions process, by its deadline.
