Regents Park Community Primary School Nursery Review

Play and conversation set the tone for the nursery at Regents Park Community Primary School in Small Heath. Its morning session sits within the school's early years provision, with a learning approach based on play. For families, the practical shape is clear: children attend in the morning and finish at midday.

Ofsted's April 2026 report judged the school's early years provision to meet the Expected standard. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.

Talking is part of the learning itself. In April 2026, children in early years had daily opportunities for conversation and play, while adults used their exchanges with children to help them remember earlier learning. This gives play a purpose beyond keeping children occupied: it becomes a way to practise language and revisit ideas.

The early years curriculum builds experiences in a planned order. Activities engage children and introduce experiences beyond those they may encounter outside school. Forest school provides a concrete example: children learn safe ways to handle tools and behave around a fire. Outdoor learning therefore includes practical responsibility as well as exploration.

Predictable routines also matter. The April 2026 early years findings linked established routines with benefits for children, giving the day a structure they can recognise. Speaking and listening receive specific attention, including for children learning English. For a parent considering this nursery, conversation, purposeful play and familiar routines are the clearest features of the early years approach.

Relationships support learning here. In April 2026, early years staff formed positive connections with children, and support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) was planned around their needs. Most early years children, including those with SEND and disadvantaged children, made good progress relative to where they began.

The school's 2025–2026 SEND arrangements included the Sunshine Room and a sensory room. These school facilities supported some children with communication, interaction and concentration, alongside time in their classrooms. They provide a specific picture of how additional support can combine a different learning space with participation alongside peers.

Parent involvement was built into those arrangements. Families of children with an education, health and care plan, a SEN Support Provision Plan or specialist support were offered three meetings each year with the SENCO and class teacher. Other families on the SEND register could review individual targets with the class teacher three times yearly. This creates scheduled opportunities to discuss progress and support.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place or confer priority under the school's admission arrangements. Parents must make a separate Reception application using Birmingham City Council's online application form, within the normal admissions round and by its deadline. Nursery attendance is not one of the listed oversubscription criteria.

Transition activities are a separate matter. The 2025–2026 SEND Information Report described a summer session for parents and carers of new Reception starters and a taster session during the latter half of the summer term. These activities help prepare children and families for the change; they do not alter admission rights.

The Nursery Morning Session runs from 8:40am to 12:00pm, Monday to Friday. A midday finish is an important consideration when matching nursery attendance to work and other childcare arrangements.

Breakfast Club is restricted to Reception through Year 6. Families should therefore plan around the nursery's own morning timetable rather than assume the school's breakfast provision extends their child's nursery day.