Brockmoor Primary School Nursery Review

Storytime, conversation and outdoor movement give Brockmoor’s nursery its character. Based at Brockmoor Primary School in Brierley Hill, the provision admits children from the term after their third birthday, subject to space. Its June 2022 nursery policy sets out 39 places per session, with morning and afternoon groups.

The nursery has its own building and outdoor space within the school. Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good following the November 2022 inspection; this is an early years judgement within the school inspection. At that time, nursery children formed relationships with adults and one another quickly, helping them begin nursery positively.

CUSP Early Foundations shapes the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum. In parent terms, this combines learning to communicate, manage feelings and move confidently with early reading, number work and exploration of the world. Adults introduce ideas directly, then children practise through play and practical activities. Sessions bring together teaching, exploration, storytime and discussion.

Language gets sustained attention. Children revisit vocabulary through stories, role-play and retelling, giving them different ways to use new words. Read Write Inc. provides the phonics approach, while White Rose Maths breaks number learning into smaller steps. Counting and number recognition sit alongside practical problem-solving, with movement and outdoor activities also used to explore mathematical ideas.

Painting, model-making and construction give children materials to experiment with. Music, dance and imaginative play provide further ways to express ideas. Outdoors, balance activities and movement develop physical skills; indoors, making marks and using pencils build control. PE coaches add physical literacy sessions, with targeted coordination support for children who need it. Classroom reading areas provide a physical space for books alongside the structured story sessions. In November 2022, daily reading teaching already began in nursery.

Starting nursery is staged. The June 2022 policy describes a home visit, followed by a visit with a parent or carer to meet staff and become familiar with the surroundings. New starters join in smaller groups on different days, giving children an introduction to the people and place before regular attendance begins.

Tapestry, the digital learning journal, lets parents follow their child’s learning and progress. Wellcomm assessments and interventions support speech and communication. In November 2022, early years language development was a priority, with regular checks for additional needs and advice from a speech and language therapist. Teaching assistants also received training to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Food arrangements need to be built into a full day. The nursery policy includes fruit through the Free Fruit for Schools scheme and milk at no charge. It describes a healthy packed lunch for full-time children, while its funding section also allows a kitchen lunch at an additional charge for children allocated a full-time funded place. Agree the lunch arrangement when accepting that place.

A nursery place does not guarantee admission to Brockmoor’s Reception. The nursery policy makes that separation explicit. Families must apply again through Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council’s Reception admissions route and meet the deadline for their entry year. Treat this as a separate application, even when your child already attends nursery.

Morning sessions run from 8:30am to 11:30am, afternoons from 12:30pm to 3:30pm, and a full day from 8:30am to 3:30pm. The June 2022 policy describes the 15 funded hours as five mornings or five afternoons, depending on availability. Children attend daily; shorter weekly patterns require exceptional circumstances.

That policy allows eligible families to use 30 funded hours if a full-time place is allocated and their funding code is validated. Additional sessions depend on spare capacity and are charged for families without the extra funded entitlement. Full days include a lunch break beyond the funded hours. A voluntary nursery fund contribution supports extra resources. Ask the school for current charges.

Nursery applications go directly to the school, using its form, returned to the office or emailed to info@brockmoor.dudley.sch.uk. Visits can be arranged through the office on 01384 816635. The nursery policy requires a responsible adult older than 16 to bring and collect children.