Starbank School Nursery

Books and predictable routines defined Starbank’s nursery in the June 2023 inspection. The nursery’s three-a-day reading approach made stories a recurring feature, while early learning also developed children’s speech, counting and curiosity. This is a start to school life from age three, with nursery provision on the Starbank Road and Bierton Road primary sites in Birmingham.

Across those two sites, the nursery admission number is 157 part time places and 15 full time places. These are combined figures, so the choice of site matters when making an enquiry. Starbank Road houses a large nursery in the school’s oldest building; Bierton Road occupies a listed school building dating from the 1930s. Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 6 and 7 June 2023. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Three-a-day gave the reading provision a memorable name at the June 2023 inspection. Nursery staff made stories engaging for children, encouraging an interest in reading from the beginning. Books were part of the learning itself, rather than simply preparation for later lessons.

In June 2023, early years learning combined communication with early number skills and exploration of nature and creativity. For parents, that meant a focus on children expressing themselves, enjoying stories and beginning to understand quantities alongside discovering the world around them. The youngest children showed an appetite for exploration and used questions to extend their understanding.

Learning also had a social dimension at that inspection. Familiar routines helped children understand what happened next and how to take part. Being considerate towards other children sat alongside developing language and counting, giving the day a framework that supported both learning and relationships.

In June 2023, clear routines helped the youngest children feel secure and treat others kindly. Children understood expectations and followed the familiar patterns of the day. That predictability matters for a child learning how to participate in a group.

The primary pastoral structure gives families a class teacher as their initial contact, backed by senior leaders. Teachers update parents about difficulties affecting learning, providing a route for discussing concerns. Across the school, SEND support is usually provided within lessons, with small-group support considered following an individual assessment. Where specialist input is needed, the school can involve local authority or health professionals and works with families to plan support.

Attending Starbank’s nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through their home local authority’s common application form, as part of the coordinated admissions process. Treat this as a separate step when planning your child’s next year.

A Reception offer can be for any of Starbank’s three sites, including Hob Moor Road. Families should therefore distinguish their preferred nursery site from the site where a later school place may be offered.

Nursery application forms are requested directly from the Starbank Road or Bierton Road site. The application process involves visiting the relevant office with the child’s birth certificate; office administrators help families complete it.

For nursery enquiries, Starbank Road’s number is 0121 464 2638 and Bierton Road’s is 0121 464 0751. Both use info@starbank.staracademies.org. Contacting the intended site gives families a direct starting point for their application.