Catshill First School Nursery Review

Open-ended materials, listening games and outdoor learning give Catshill’s nursery its character. This is the school’s own nursery class on Gibb Lane in Catshill, Bromsgrove, forming part of its Early Years Foundation Stage provision. The Curiosity Approach shapes play, with real resources that children can use creatively together rather than for one fixed task.

Play drives the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum here. In parent language, children learn through practical experiences, with staff planning around their interests and different stages of development. Nursery has indoor and outdoor learning areas that have been refurbished. These give children space to explore in both settings.

Language has several concrete strands. Singing and listening games are everyday activities, while Rocket Phonics First Steps uses ditties and actions to introduce sounds. Word Aware supports vocabulary, alongside Speech and Language resources. The emphasis gives children opportunities to listen, join in and put ideas into words before formal reading becomes the focus.

Stories extend that work. Across early years, children share songs, rhymes and familiar books daily; Helicopter stories adds verbal storytelling. Practical maths also begins in early years, using objects children can handle to build understanding and mathematical vocabulary.

Outdoor learning is a daily part of nursery life, and named wellies stay there ready for use. Forest Fun sessions are scheduled across the year for nursery children. Physical activity also includes practising taking shoes and socks off and putting them back on: a small, useful step towards managing personal routines independently.

Getting to know each child has a place in learning itself. The Marvellous Me! topic uses family stories and photographs to help children settle and inform staff planning. A bedtime-story book and reading diary travel home, giving families a simple shared activity that connects home with nursery. Books are changed weekly, with additional parent-and-child exchanges possible on Thursdays and Fridays.

For additional needs, the class teacher is the first contact and can refer families to the SENDCo team. Nursery teaching uses Speech and Language resources, so language support is part of the classroom approach. Early years leadership includes an Assistant Headteacher with the Early Years Lead role.

Food and medical routines bring practical support. Nursery children receive fruit or vegetables each day, and under-fives can have free milk through Cool Milk, with registration required. Shire Services supplies school meals. For allergies or additional medical needs, staff work with parents on an individual care plan; the school also has a medical room and an accessible toilet.

Attending this nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process by the applicable deadline. Treat choosing nursery and securing a school place as separate decisions.

Bring a named water bottle and book bag each day, keeping the bottle separate to protect the books. For nursery PE, children wear clothes suitable for movement rather than bringing a separate kit.

The Kool Crew provides wraparound care within the school building. Registration enquiries go to thekoolcrewltd@gmail.com. Families can arrange a school visit or a discussion about their child’s individual needs by telephone appointment; the school number is 01527 872913. Refer to the school for current meal charges.