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Nursery at The Oval School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Early reading and carefully planned learning give The Oval’s nursery its educational direction. This is the nursery provision within The Oval School, a primary school admitting children from age three, on Whittington Oval in Yardley, Birmingham. The school belongs to drb Ignite Multi Academy Trust.
The school places emphasis on children’s wellbeing and partnership with families. Its aim is for children to participate actively in their learning, both in the classroom and beyond. For parents, that makes the relationship between home and school part of the choice, alongside the learning itself.
Learning starts with a planned sequence of knowledge, skills and vocabulary. At the inspection on 15 and 16 October 2024, Ofsted found that this planning began in the early years. The practical implication is a foundation that connects what children learn now with their later learning, rather than treating nursery as an isolated stage.
Reading also starts early. In October 2024, reading was a priority from the early years onwards, with staff trained in teaching it and additional help for children needing support with early reading. That gives books and the beginnings of reading a clear place in the educational experience.
Support for additional needs sits within the school’s arrangements for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Planning takes account of individual needs, and additional support strategies are used where appropriate to help children access the curriculum. Parents can discuss their child’s needs with the class teacher or the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENDCo), giving families a clear starting point for those conversations.
Where specialist advice is necessary, the school seeks help from educational psychologists, speech and language therapists or the school nurse. Staff receive training, coaching and support for their work with pupils with SEND. These arrangements connect classroom support with specialist advice when a child needs it.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place and does not confer priority under the school’s admission criteria. Families must make a separate application through Birmingham Local Authority’s Birmingham Primary School Admissions route for September entry, meeting the normal application deadline.
Priority is based on looked-after or previously looked-after status, qualifying sibling connections and distance from home. For sibling priority, the sibling must attend at both application and admission. Nursery attendance should therefore be chosen for the nursery experience itself; families still need to plan the Reception application separately.
The school is at Whittington Oval, Yardley, Birmingham, B33 8JG. Joining enquiries go to the school office on 0121 464 3248 or schooloffice@theoval.drbignitemat.org. This is a direct contact route for families considering the provision.
For planning around the school calendar, the autumn term ends on 18 December 2026. Children’s spring term starts on 5 January 2027, following a school inset day on 4 January. Those dates matter when coordinating family routines with school closures.
It is within The Oval School on Whittington Oval, Yardley, Birmingham, B33 8JG.
No. Nursery attendance neither guarantees a place nor confers priority under the school’s admission criteria.
Make a separate application to Birmingham Local Authority through Birmingham Primary School Admissions for September entry, by the normal application deadline.
Parents can speak to the class teacher or the school’s SENDCo. Specialist advice is sought where necessary.
Phone 0121 464 3248 or email schooloffice@theoval.drbignitemat.org.
