Grestone Academy Nursery Review

Book time, shared introductions and children choosing their own activities give Grestone Academy’s nursery its shape. Indoor and outdoor play are part of the same session, with adults helping children extend what they discover. This is the school’s own nursery in Handsworth Wood, admitting children from age two. Places depend on staffing ratios and demand, so the size of the intake is tied to the provision it can support.

Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 13 and 14 December 2023. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Each session begins with a welcome, time with a book and an introduction together. Children then select activities indoors or outside. Choice is built into the timetable. Adults join their play, ask questions and encourage them to explore further, connecting independent activity with guided learning.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) takes practical form through play and exploration. Themes include Plants, Our Body, Animals and Seasonal Changes, giving children familiar subjects to investigate. Children decide which activities to try, while staff encourage them to experience the different opportunities prepared for them. For parents, the useful distinction is the balance: a shared beginning gives the session structure, followed by time for children to pursue their interests with adult support.

In December 2023, children in early years adapted promptly to learning routines. This gives a concrete indication of settling into the day, alongside the nursery’s regular shared start.

For children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the school uses a repeating cycle of assessment, planned support, action and review. Parents contribute to decisions about support. Possible adjustments include visual timetables and extra time to process information, with specialist services involved where necessary. Meetings with teachers and the SEND team, plus a communication book where needed, provide ways to share concerns and progress.

During summer 2025, the nursery provided fruit at morning snack time; families could alternatively send a healthy snack. Children were also encouraged to manage dressing themselves and practise handwashing after using the toilet. These routines connected personal care with growing independence.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place or confer priority. Families must make a separate application online through Birmingham City Council and meet the normal deadline for their entry year. Children whose Education, Health and Care Plan names Grestone Academy have priority admission; oversubscription then considers looked-after and previously looked-after children, siblings and distance from the school.

Transition support is a separate matter. For children with SEND, information passes to the next teacher ahead of the move, and introductions to new teaching staff happen in advance. A photo book or social story can be prepared where helpful, giving a child a concrete way to understand the change.

Morning sessions run from 8:45am to 11:45am, with afternoons from 12:15pm to 3:15pm, Monday to Friday. Eligible children can receive 15 funded hours, and eligible working parents can access the nursery’s 30-hour offer. Nursery applications go directly to the academy through its form or school office.

Wraparound care. Nursery children cannot attend the school’s breakfast or after-school clubs. Families needing care beyond their nursery session will need another arrangement.

Uniform includes a yellow polo shirt, navy jogging bottoms and a branded navy sweatshirt or cardigan, alongside black school shoes, wellington boots and a branded book bag. The office can arrange a tour: call 0121 675 6787 or email enquiry@grestoneacademy.com.