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Nursery at Gracelands 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
A woodland patch, an outdoor kitchen and a growing area give Gracelands’ play-based day a practical connection to nature. Children can garden, cook and care for plants alongside choosing their own play. There is room to follow an interest.
On Grace Road in Sparkbrook, this Birmingham maintained nursery school offers places for children aged two, three and four. Nursery education is the school’s purpose, rather than a class within a primary school. Qualified teachers work alongside nursery nurses and support staff.
Choice fills much of the day. Children move between outdoor and indoor activities, playing alone or with friends, while adults join their play and organise learning around interests and developmental needs. The described routine includes an opening key-person group of 15 minutes, 90 minutes of exploration, then another 15-minute group for food, stories, songs and reflection. Those shared moments give the session a recognisable rhythm.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) links learning to children’s development: communication, movement and relationships come first, alongside early reading, maths, creativity and understanding the world. Gracelands uses play to make those areas concrete. Its Health for Life thread follows seeds through growing, harvesting and cooking, helping children connect food with its origins.
Forest School takes place during nursery hours in an area of bushes, plants and trees. Possible activities include searching for small creatures, building dens and making things from natural materials. Waterproof suits and wellington boots are supplied. Sessions continue throughout the year except in dangerous weather, so outdoor exploration is part of the provision across the seasons.
At the October 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that children learned successfully, with communication receiving sustained attention and counting practised daily. Children also concentrated on their chosen activities and enjoyed books, songs and rhymes.
Each family has a key person who gets to know their child and shares information with parents. Before starting, families are offered an induction meeting; a home visit sometimes follows. Termly conversations cover learning and next steps, while Tapestry lets parents contribute experiences from home. The induction meeting gives families an opportunity to discuss their child before nursery starts.
Support for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) includes a Sensory Room, visual timetables and Makaton signs. Staff use WellComm to assess language and plan targets. Additional work may happen in small groups or individually where possible. Parents help shape learning plans, and permission is sought before outside professionals become involved. For children with SEND, starting arrangements include a home visit and discussions with previous settings.
Milk, fruit and/or toast are included in sessions. Under the September 2026 arrangements, children staying through lunch bring a packed lunch unless their family meets Early Years Pupil Premium criteria, when the school supplies one. Parents provide wipes and nappies. Rest, sleep, washing and changing are included among the day’s care routines. Ofsted judged safeguarding effective in October 2024.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal school admissions process and meet the deadline for their child’s entry year. Birmingham’s letter for September 2024 entry directed parents to its online school admissions service, with a closing date of 15 January 2024; that was a past application cycle.
Preparation is a separate matter. Gracelands works with nearby primary schools during the summer term. For children with SEND, it invites the receiving school’s SENCO and key staff into nursery and shares information about learning and support. That helps the new adults understand the child before the move.
Term-time opening runs from 8:30am to 3:30pm. Core days are 9am to 3pm, extended days cover the opening hours, and half-day sessions run from 8:30am to 11:30am or 12:30pm to 3:30pm. Funded attendance can use mornings, afternoons or blocked days.
The September 2026 arrangements provide 15 funded hours from the term after a child turns three, with eligibility-based funding also described for two-year-olds and working parents. Extra sessions and top-up hours are charged and depend on availability; top-ups have a one-hour minimum. Payment is monthly in advance. Contact enquiry@grclands.bham.sch.uk or 0121 772 3124 for enquiries, visits and current charges.
Its nursery places are for children aged two, three and four.
Yes. Morning sessions run from 8:30am to 11:30am, and afternoon sessions from 12:30pm to 3:30pm, subject to availability and entrance criteria.
Children staying over lunchtime bring a packed lunch unless their family meets Early Years Pupil Premium criteria, when the school provides one.
Parents contribute to plans and learning targets. The nursery asks permission before involving outside professionals, and children have a key person to discuss their needs with.
No. Reception requires a separate application through the normal school admissions process for the relevant entry year.
