St Anthony's Catholic Primary School Nursery

Tiny Ants gives the youngest children their own starting point at St Anthony's: provision for two and three year olds alongside Nursery, within the school's early years foundation stage (EYFS). This is school-based early learning in a Catholic setting on Fordbridge Road, Kingshurst.

At the inspection on 8 and 9 June 2022, Ofsted judged early years provision Outstanding. That judgement covers the school's early years provision; it is not a separate nursery rating. The nursery-specific findings give it substance: children enjoyed sound practice, listened closely and began learning the routines of school life.

Play is the main vehicle for learning. Staff organise the curriculum around questions and adjust it to children's interests and needs. They join children in play, observe what they can do and introduce materials or prompts to extend their thinking. For parents, the useful distinction is that play has a teaching purpose: adults use it to decide what a child is ready to explore next.

The EYFS brings together communication, physical development and learning to manage feelings and relationships. Alongside these sit early reading and writing, mathematics, creative expression and discovering how the world works. St Anthony's aims to develop independence and persistence, encouraging children to try things for themselves and build friendships.

In June 2022, Nursery children were practising the sounds associated with letters and taking pleasure in the activity. Mathematical understanding also began in Nursery. These are early foundations, with listening and sound recognition forming part of the preparation for learning to read. Children also learnt familiar routines and how to follow them, giving the day a social dimension alongside its learning activities.

Tiny Ants and Nursery have separate staff teams. The wider school team includes a Child and Family Worker and a SENCo/Inclusion Manager, giving families distinct routes for discussing family circumstances or additional learning needs.

School support includes an external speech and language therapist, an independent child psychologist and local authority services. These are school-level resources, rather than a promise of a particular intervention for each nursery child. Within early years, the June 2022 findings described teaching planned around children's differing needs.

Families receive curriculum overviews at the beginning of each term. That gives parents a practical connection with what children are learning and a starting point for conversations with staff.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process. Nursery applications are handled by St Anthony's, while Solihull MBC manages Reception applications and waiting lists. Keep those two processes separate when planning your child's next step.

Childcare provision covers ages two to four, with funded and paid options. For Solihull three and four year olds, 15 hours of early education funding is available, with a further 15 hours for eligible children. Families using the 30-hour arrangement must bring their eligibility code to school for validation and recheck it every three months. Apply in the term before your child starts, by 31 August for autumn funding, 31 December for spring funding or 31 March for summer funding. Applying after these dates means waiting until the following term for the additional funding.

Parents supply consumables, including wipes, nappies, sun cream and nappy cream. Nursery application and waiting-list enquiries go through the school office. Contact office@st-anthonys.solihull.sch.uk or 0121 770 3168.