Chandos Primary School Nursery Review

A separate room for two-year-olds and daily sessions devoted to rhymes and sounds give Chandos nursery a clear early-years identity. This is the nursery within Chandos Primary School in Highgate, Birmingham, with children eligible to start in the term following their second birthday. Its two-year-old provision has 16 part-time spaces. Younger children have their own room in the nursery building, then can explore its other facilities when ready.

In June 2024, Ofsted graded the school's early years provision Good. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.

Play provides the starting point. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together learning about relationships, communication and movement with early literacy, mathematics, creativity and understanding the world. Activities respond to children's interests and development, with opportunities to explore both outside and indoors. For parents, this means learning extends beyond time spent on an adult-led task.

Little Wandle Letters and Sounds provides the nursery's early reading approach through Foundations in Phonics. Daily small-group Rhyme Time and Sounds Time sessions develop listening, rhyming and awareness of word sounds. Children practise hearing syllables and combining or separating sounds aloud. These are preparations for later phonics teaching, rather than a promise that children will already be reading independently.

Creative work includes drawing, sculpture and painting, giving children practice with small hand movements as they experiment with materials. Music brings percussion, chants and singing into learning, including counting. Physical development includes learning to catch, throw, climb, run and jump safely. Circle time gives children opportunities to discuss ideas, share and take turns.

The indoor classroom and outdoor learning environment were organised effectively in June 2024. Staff shaped activities around their knowledge of children's development and interests, and children kept working at tasks, concentrated and learned to manage routines. The practical benefit was increasing independence alongside learning to play with others.

Every child belongs to a family group with a key worker. For the youngest children, the separate room provides a base before they explore more of the nursery. This gives the provision a defined group structure alongside opportunities to use the wider learning environment.

Families are invited to a phonics workshop during their child's first nursery term. Parents also help their child choose an initial library book for sharing at home, with books exchangeable weekly. That creates a specific link between nursery learning and time together at home.

For additional learning needs, the school's contact route starts with the class teacher and continues to the SENDCo. Chandos says it involves parents in decisions and contacts them about concerns. SEND support. In June 2024, school-wide systems for supporting pupils with SEND were not being applied consistently, and their effectiveness needed evaluation. Families needing additional support should discuss how it will be organised for their child.

School meals operate on a three-week menu rotation, with dinner arrangements handled through the office and payment through Parent Pay. These are school-wide arrangements. Families considering a school dinner can use the office as their starting point.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through Birmingham City Council, following the normal application route and deadline.

Preparation for the move is a separate matter. Children attending Chandos nursery have a Reception transition visit during the summer term built into their timetable. This gives them an opportunity to become familiar with the next classroom; it does not secure admission.

Applications for nursery places are obtained from the school office. The two-year-old spaces are part-time, so this provision should be considered on that basis when planning childcare.

For enquiries, call 0121 464 3881 or email enquiry@chandosprimary.org. Visits to the school can be arranged through the office. Visitors enter from Vaughton Street South using an intercom. Disabled parking spaces are provided in the staff car park; other parents may not use that car park.