Nursery at Holywell Primary and 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.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 reading tent indoors and two Forest School sites on the Waseley Hills give Holywell’s nursery its distinctive mix of stories, play and outdoor exploration. Children join the school’s Foundation Stage from the term after their third birthday, subject to spaces. This is the nursery at Holywell Primary and Nursery School in Rubery, with funded attendance patterns of 15 or 30 hours.
The emphasis is on children making choices and learning to do things for themselves. Resources are within their reach, and organised so children can put them away independently. No Ofsted graded rating yet.
Children move between indoor and outdoor activities through a free flow arrangement, choosing interests to pursue. Adults also lead focused activities to develop particular knowledge and skills. That gives the day both room for individual exploration and time for supported learning.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings learning, development and care together for children from birth to five. Here, play is the main vehicle. A curiosity corner, studio and construction area provide different starting points; role play and the reading tent add opportunities for imaginative play and books. Children are encouraged to cooperate as they use these spaces.
Outdoor learning has substantial physical space behind it. The outdoor area shared with Reception can be used throughout the day, year round. Foundation Stage children visit Forest School weekly, using the two Waseley Hills sites for activities including building dens, using a bow saw and cooking over a campfire. Nursery activities also include learning to use mallets and stakes safely. These are practical experiences with materials, tools and the outdoors.
Speaking and listening receive deliberate attention. Children share their thoughts and practise hearing other children’s ideas. A weekly story and rhyme are revisited each day, while books and nursery rhymes go home for families to share. Repetition gives children familiar material to discuss. Music, STEM activities, PE, maths and phonics also feature in nursery provision.
Nursery staffing includes teachers and learning support staff. The Foundation Stage team aims to ease the change from home to school, with children’s sense of safety and enjoyment central to its approach.
For concerns about development or additional needs, families start with their child’s class teacher. The school’s support includes adult assistance, intervention groups and outside specialists. Provision Plans contain focused targets developed with parent and child input, giving families a part in planning support. THRIVE practitioners and Early Help are further routes for children and families needing assistance.
Food has a clear daily routine. EYFS children receive fruit, and lunch is eaten in the school hall, with hot meals or packed lunches. Dolce Catering prepares hot and cold food on site each day. Families order through School Grid, with an 8:45am deadline for that day’s school lunch. Orders can cover a day, a week or a half term.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal council admissions route; Holywell directs applicants to Worcestershire Children First School Admission or their local council.
The shared outdoor area provides continuity between nursery and Reception environments. That is a feature of the children’s setting, separate from the admissions decision.
The 30-hour funded pattern runs Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 3:00pm. For 15 hours, families have two patterns: Monday and Tuesday full days plus Wednesday morning until noon, or Wednesday afternoon from noon followed by Thursday and Friday full days. These are fixed combinations, so the Wednesday split matters when arranging childcare.
Wraparound provision adds morning and afternoon hours. Nursery applications use the nursery application form or the school office; places are allocated at the end of January in the school year the child is intended to start. Contact the office on 0121 453 7829 or secretary@holywell.worcs.sch.uk.
Children are handed over to an adult with parental responsibility, a known carer or known family member, or another adult authorised by the parent in advance. Only siblings aged 16 or over may collect. Families can set a password when authorising another adult, providing an extra check at handover.
Children can start the term after turning three, provided spaces are available.
The nursery offers 15-hour and 30-hour funded places. The 30-hour pattern is Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 3:00pm. The 15-hour options combine two full days with either Wednesday morning or Wednesday afternoon.
Yes. Nursery children have weekly Forest School access, and the Foundation Stage uses two sites on the Waseley Hills.
Yes. Dolce Catering prepares meals on site. Orders are made through School Grid by 8:45am for lunch that day; packed lunches are also eaten in the school hall.
No. A separate Reception application is required through the council admissions route.
