West House School Nursery Review

Number rhymes for babies, French for pre-school children and daily outdoor play give West House’s nursery a day that changes with each child’s stage. This is provision for girls and boys from six months to four years, within West House School in Edgbaston. At the March 2026 nursery inspection, the registered setting had 99 places and 77 children on roll. Those are nursery figures, rather than the school’s capacity.

The ISI nursery inspection of 3 to 4 March 2026 recorded safeguarding as met and the expected standard across the other assessed areas. Its practical strengths included reassuring relationships with adults and a carefully developed mathematics programme; the breadth of pre-school play and precision of some additional support needed attention.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines early learning with children’s care and development. Here, mathematics starts with songs about numbers, progresses to hands-on comparisons of shapes and sizes, and reaches problem-solving in pre-school. That gives children something concrete to handle before they work with more demanding ideas.

Books are part of each day. Babies explore flap books with adult commentary; older children use illustrations to retell stories to one another. Conversation runs through activities, with staff adjusting their language to the children’s stage. Learning also crosses age groups: a plant project involved babies feeling soil, younger children pouring and handling tools, and pre-school children exploring what plants need.

Outside, daily access provides space for energetic movement. Wheeled toys, climbing and ball play let children practise balance, control and co-ordination. Specialist provision adds Spring Active sport for Sapling, Oaks and Pre-School, while Oaks and Pre-School have weekly music teaching and school library visits. French is for Pre-School.

Pre-school play. In March 2026, older nursery children had less scope than younger children to develop creative play, and their curriculum needed a broader balance of experiences. Families weighing early academic preparation should also consider how much room their child will have for imagination, curiosity and persistence.

Familiar adults help children settle. In March 2026, the key person arrangement generally supported children’s security, with especially close relationships among babies and their regular carers. Where possible, baby care follows home routines. Staff work with parents on weaning, and familiar objects from home help children rest. This connects nursery care with what already reassures a child.

An in-house catering team prepares lunches, with halal and vegetarian alternatives where applicable and menu allergens marked. Adults remain beside children during meals, combining supervision with opportunities to practise using cups and cutlery. Parents receive progress updates; Class Dojo and Famly are used in Early Years communication.

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive support informed by school expertise and speech and language specialists. Some use simple signing to express themselves. However, in March 2026, activities offered instead of whole-group learning were not consistently planned around individual learning targets. Parent communication also needed to explain the benefits of play more fully. These are useful points to discuss when considering how support will work for a particular child.

Nursery attendance does not provide an unconditional guarantee of Reception entry. West House’s admission arrangements give existing pre-school boys a specific continuation route: transfer is normally automatic, with parents completing a transfer form. Internal entry does not depend on academic attainment, but significant concerns about behaviour or development are discussed beforehand.

The nursery contract also requires a School Parent Contract for boys continuing, and reserves the school’s decision about whether progression is appropriate. Nursery admission and school entry therefore involve distinct paperwork and conditions. Girls attend the nursery, while Reception is for boys.

For children with SEND, the Early Years support lead works with the school SENCO on the pre-school transition. Leaving after nursery. Families choosing another school must give the contractual term’s notice or become liable for fees in lieu. Make that decision alongside the transfer arrangements.

The nursery fee schedule gives opening hours of 7.30am to 6pm in term time, ending at 5pm in school holidays; a 7am start needs prior arrangement. Term-time attendance can be supplemented with holiday care. Hours can differ between days and change half-termly, subject to the contract’s half-term notice for altering session numbers and minimum attendance of two core days each week.

Core options include 8am to 3.30pm days and 8am to 1pm mornings. The schedule offers eligible working-family funding of 30 hours for ages nine months to four years, and universal 15-hour funding for three- and four-year-olds. Additional hours are charged separately. Meals, specialist teaching and applicable consumables also carry charges; the nursery terms describe curriculum and consumable charges as compulsory. Obtain current charges from the bursary office before accepting a place.

For enquiries or an individual visit, contact admissions@westhouseprep.com. EYFS entry includes a taster arranged after the school receives the Registration Form and registration fee. Families sign children in using InVentry at the main school entrance or Field House.