St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School Nursery

A prayer garden, Bible storytelling and children taking turns to lead prayers give this nursery a distinctly Catholic character. It belongs to St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School on Arran Way in Smith's Wood, where the school's age range begins at three. Nursery sits within the school's Early Years provision, with learning spaces both indoors and outside.

Ofsted judged early years provision Good at the inspection on 6 and 7 February 2024. That judgement covers the school's early years provision rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Faith has a regular place in the children's learning. Daily class prayers sit alongside Religious Education and weekly Collective Worship. Children hear Bible stories, sing and have opportunities to contribute prayers of their own. When children start Nursery, they learn to make the sign of the cross. These are concrete routines for families considering how Catholic education will shape their child's day.

Children also help arrange prayer tables according to the season, giving them a practical role in preparing the space used for prayer. Collective Worship brings together meditation, storytelling and discussion about Jesus, as well as opportunities to reflect on children's gifts and talents.

Outside, the prayer garden provides somewhere for nursery and Reception children to pause and pray. It has also been used for acting out Bible stories, connecting storytelling with activity beyond the classroom. Children have helped turn an outdoor tree into a prayer tree, attaching prayers they had written with adult help. The outdoor environment therefore contributes to religious learning as well as providing a space for quiet reflection.

Starting nursery includes an induction meeting for new families. This gives parents a specific introduction to the start of their child's education.

Support also draws on the school's wider team. Parents can reach the special educational needs coordinator through the office, while a Child and Family Support Worker offers advice and connections to other agencies. For SEND support, the school uses an assess, plan, do and review cycle; progress towards agreed outcomes is reviewed with parents each term. That provides a recurring opportunity to discuss how support is working.

For families using school meals, ordering is through Cypad. Paid meals require advance payment through ParentPay by Friday evening for the following week. Aspens Services Ltd works with parents on allergy information, and families complete and return an allergy form so dietary needs can be communicated.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route by the normal deadline. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for school as two separate decisions, rather than assuming that starting here reserves a later place.

Funding includes 15 hours of early education for Solihull children aged three and four, with another 15 hours for eligible children. Families applying for the additional hours use Childcare Choices and bring their eligibility code to school for validation. Applications must be made in the term before the child starts, and eligibility is checked again every three months to keep funding continuing.

School visits can be arranged with the headteacher. For enquiries, contact the office on 0121 770 1892 or email office@sjb.solihull.sch.uk. The school is at Arran Way, Smith's Wood, Birmingham, B36 0QE.