Bordesley Green Primary School Nursery Review

Stories, conversation and daily outdoor learning shape nursery life at Bordesley Green. Children practise making friends, taking turns and following routines alongside their first reading, writing and maths activities. The emphasis is on learning how to join in.

For children aged 3 to 4, the nursery sits within the school's Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Its 52 part-time places divide equally between morning and afternoon groups, with 26 in each. A nursery teacher and nursery support role form the team described for this provision.

Free-flow activity alternates with short adult-led periods. Both session timetables include nursery rhymes, phonics, a snack break and a closing story. Thursday includes library time; Friday brings PE. This gives children repeated opportunities to play and explore, punctuated by shared activities with an adult.

The EYFS here combines learning to communicate and manage feelings with early number work, reading, writing and creative activity. Becoming a confident talker is a specific nursery priority. The Hungry Caterpillar and The Bear Hunt feature in its reading, and families are asked to read together at least three times each week. Stories connect the session with home.

Indoor learning space and an outdoor area are used daily. The nursery curriculum also includes caring for seeds as they grow into plants, giving children something real to observe and discuss. A January 2025 Silly Science Day provides another concrete example: nursery children investigated clouds using shaving foam, then added food colouring to explore rain clouds. That was a particular event, rather than a promise about the regular timetable.

At the March 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that early-years learning had been organised into manageable stages within an ambitious curriculum that included children with SEND. For parents, the relevant point is the sequence: new learning is divided into smaller steps.

Starting nursery involves preparation with families. Children joining in September are offered introductory visits during the summer and autumn terms, while parents attend transition meetings. These visits let children become familiar with the setting and give staff opportunities to learn about them. Snack breaks are built into both nursery sessions.

For additional needs, the school's Local Offer directs parents first to the class teacher, with the SENCO team also accessible through appointments. Support can include adapted work, individual help or small-group activity. Named specialist services include the Communication and Autism Team and Chatterboxes speech and language provision. These are school services, with support shaped around the child's needs.

Physical access. The school occupies a Victorian building with numerous stairs and no stair-lift option. A portable ramp and two wheelchair-accessible toilets provide some adaptations. Families whose child has mobility needs should assess the spaces their child will use during a visit.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process by its deadline. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as two distinct decisions.

Transition support is a separate matter. The school's programme includes introductory visits and parent meetings for September starters. When children with additional needs change year group, teachers exchange information and strategies, and the SENCO team supports children who find change difficult. Familiarity and preparation help with the move; they do not secure admission.

Morning nursery runs from 8:40am to 11:40am, with gates opening at 8:35am. The afternoon session runs from 12:30pm to 3:30pm, with gates opening at 12:25pm. Each is a part-time pattern, so families should plan around the relevant collection time.

For nursery enquiries, contact the school office on 0121 772 1601 or email enquiry@bordsgrn.bham.sch.uk. The school is on Marchmont Road in Birmingham. Earlier childcare. The school's breakfast club accepts ages 5 to 11, so it does not cover this nursery's age group.