Rowley Hall Primary School Nursery Review

Stories, sounds and learning to look after their own belongings give Rowley Hall’s nursery its character. Bluebirds is the school’s nursery class, placing this provision within Rowley Hall Primary School rather than a separate childcare setting. The school is on Windsor Road in Rowley Regis.

The July 2024 inspection judged early years provision Good. That judgement covered the school’s early years provision, rather than giving the nursery a separate grade. In February 2025, Rowley Hall joined The Elliot Foundation Academy Trust, so the inspection findings describe provision before that change.

Early reading begins with stories and speech sounds in Nursery. This gives children an introduction to the language and listening involved in learning to read, rather than making reading something that starts only after nursery.

In July 2024, activities linked to the main reading books gave children opportunities to practise recently introduced vocabulary. Those experiences also revisited mathematics and phonics, connecting stories with early number work and the sounds used in reading. Books therefore had a role beyond story time: they supplied a starting point for other learning.

Independence was another clear feature of the early years day. Children learned to take care of their possessions and surroundings, alongside working with other children. For parents, these are useful foundations for participating in a classroom: managing belongings, sharing learning and taking responsibility for the space around them. Most staff supported children’s speaking and communication skilfully at that time. The qualifier matters: this was a finding about most staff, rather than every adult.

Bluebirds has class teacher provision within the school’s staffing structure. Alongside classroom staff, the school has an acting SENDCO, a Parent and Family Support Officer who also assists the SENDCO, and a Learning Mentor. These are distinct roles, giving families points of contact for additional needs, family matters and support with learning.

Safeguarding responsibilities sit with a designated lead and deputies whose roles include school leadership, family support and behaviour support. For a parent raising a concern, that structure connects safeguarding with both the leadership team and staff working with families.

Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through Sandwell Local Authority Admissions and meet the normal application deadline. The nursery application goes directly to the school; the next application follows a different route.

Once a Reception place has been offered, the school invites parents to a new intake meeting and provides information to help with the move. That preparation follows an offer of a place. It should be understood separately from the admission decision.

Nursery applications can be made by telephoning the school office on 0121 559 1400, collecting a form in person or completing the nursery application form. The office is the direct route for joining Bluebirds.

School payments use ParentPay, with PayPoint available for parents paying cash after notifying the administration office. This gives families an alternative to online payment while keeping payments within the school’s arrangements.