Nursery at Longwill A Primary School for Deaf Children

British Sign Language and English sit side by side at Longwill, giving its nursery provision a clear focus on communication. Nursery-aged children belong to the school's early years classes, within a Foundation department serving children aged 2 to 5. This is provision within a school for Deaf children, with language and Deaf identity shaping the learning experience.

At the Ofsted inspection on 8 and 9 November 2022, early years provision was graded Outstanding. That judgement covers the school's early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery. The practical distinction matters: nursery children are part of the Foundation setting.

Reading begins with a visual route into phonics. Visual Phonics by Hand is Longwill's own approach for Deaf learners, and children start learning phonics signs in nursery. For a child who cannot hear or process sounds, those signs provide a way into early reading that does not depend on hearing the sounds.

In November 2022, early learning gave sustained attention to both reading and BSL, helping children develop the communication skills needed to take part in other learning. Here, the early years foundation stage combines the beginnings of reading with learning to express ideas and participate. Communication is part of learning itself.

Foundation activities show how that works beyond phonics. In May 2021, Bears Class practised estimating the size of groups of objects before counting them, connecting an initial guess with a number they could check. A December 2020 Deaf Studies activity explored ways to greet friends, bringing communication into everyday relationships.

Storytelling adds another purpose for signing. An April 2023 early years activity involved children telling stories independently in BSL. In May that year, the NDCS Bus introduced early years pupils to specialist alarm clocks and aspects of Deaf lifestyles. These are dated examples of Foundation learning, bringing language, practical technology and Deaf experience together.

In November 2022, families helped shape early years provision through stay and play sessions and frequent meetings involving parents and preschool services. This gave parents a role in planning provision alongside preschool services.

Children's views also mattered in early years. Adults listened to their opinions, helping them understand that they could express themselves and expect a response. For families, this connects communication teaching with everyday care, rather than treating signing only as a lesson activity.

Longwill's SEND Information page links to Birmingham Local Offer and Longwill Local Offer in BSL. The latter gives families a signed route to information. School Meal Information can be accessed through the School Meals page.

Attending Longwill's nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Nursery admission and Reception admission are separate processes: families must apply again through the applicable normal route and meet its deadline. Treat the Reception application as a separate step when planning your child's next stage.

For nursery enquiries, contact the school office on 0121 475 3923 or email enquiry@longwill.bham.sch.uk. The Contact Us page also has an enquiry form. Longwill is on Bell Hill in Birmingham, B31 1LD.