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Nursery at St James CofE Primary 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Books, conversation and boots for outdoor play shape nursery life at St James CofE Primary School in Oldbury. Children share family photographs, borrow library books and join Forest School activities, giving families several practical ways to connect home life with learning.
This is the school's own nursery, with a teacher who also leads the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), supported by learning support practitioners. Nursery children participate in school assemblies and special church occasions, so their experience extends beyond their classroom. The Church of England setting is part of the day, rather than simply a name above the door.
Play sets the direction. Adults organise activities around topics lasting half a term, with a different book each week linked to that theme. Teacher-led work sits alongside activities children choose themselves. Staff join their play, use their interests to guide learning and demonstrate skills as they work towards each child's next steps.
The EYFS brings together language, relationships and emotional development, movement, reading and writing, maths, creativity and understanding the world. Here, those strands meet in concrete routines. Read Write Inc. Nursery Phonics runs daily, introducing set 1 sounds; children also practise blending short words aloud and enjoy rhythm and rhyme. Library books change on Wednesdays, giving parents a regular story to share at home.
Family photographs provide another starting point for conversation. Children have a weekly opportunity to discuss celebrations, outings or things they have made. PE takes place on Tuesday afternoons and Thursday mornings. Wellies and spare clothing stay at school so outdoor learning can move between days as weather and other activities allow.
Ofsted's May 2026 report graded early years at Expected standard, finding effective adult interactions and activities covering the breadth of learning. Outdoor learning. Indoor provision was more developed than the outdoor environment, and improving consistency across early years learning spaces remained an action. Families weighing up outdoor provision should keep that distinction in mind.
Positive relationships support learning. In May 2026, early years staff checked children's understanding regularly and helped address gaps; children using the hub benefited from secure staff relationships and made substantial progress, especially in communication. These findings concern the school's early years provision as a whole.
Support for special educational needs and/or disabilities follows Assess, Plan, Do, Review, including in Nursery once a need has been identified. Progress is assessed each term, with support potentially involving an intervention, additional resources or a referral. Reviewing its effect helps staff decide whether to adjust or continue it.
Parents can speak to the nursery team with questions. The nursery email address accepts photographs only, so it should not be used for messages. Children need a water bottle and sun hat, with sunscreen applied before school during hot weather; staff can help with its lunchtime application. During extreme heat, children stay indoors.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council's school admissions route. Local authority admission criteria apply, so choosing this nursery should be a decision about the nursery experience itself.
Transition support extends to children moving to other schools as well as those remaining at St James. That support is separate from the allocation of a place.
Morning sessions run from 9am to noon; afternoons run from 12.20pm to 3.20pm. Families can choose mornings or afternoons across five days, or two-and-a-half-day patterns: Monday and Tuesday plus Wednesday morning, or Wednesday afternoon plus Thursday and Friday. Eligible families can access 30 hours of free childcare.
Contact the school office on 0121 552 5491 or contact.us@stjamespri.uk to enquire or arrange a visit. Uniform includes a white collared top, burgundy knitwear and dark grey trousers, skirt or pinafore, with sensible black shoes. Logo sweatshirts and cardigans are optional. Children attending the nursery's PE sessions should come dressed in PE kit.
Morning nursery runs from 9am to noon, and afternoon nursery from 12.20pm to 3.20pm. Two-and-a-half-day attendance patterns are also offered.
The nursery offers 30 hours of free childcare for children whose parents are eligible.
Children have daily Read Write Inc. Nursery Phonics lessons covering set 1 sounds, alongside rhythm, rhyme and stories. Library books are changed on Wednesdays.
No. A separate application is required through Sandwell's school admissions route, and local authority admission criteria apply.
Contact the school office on 0121 552 5491 or email contact.us@stjamespri.uk to arrange a visit.
