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Nursery at Devonshire Infant Academy
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Rhymes, stories and first sounds give Devonshire’s nursery its character: an introduction to learning built around language. The nursery belongs to Devonshire Infant Academy on Auckland Road in Smethwick. A limited number of full-time places are offered, making the nursery an option for families seeking more than a shorter session.
Early years provision was graded Outstanding at the Ofsted inspection on 11 and 12 February 2025. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision; it is not a separate nursery rating. A junior school occupies the same site, placing the nursery within a wider school setting.
Language gives the learning a clear thread. In February 2025, children in Nursery were learning basic sounds, while rhyme and storytelling captured children’s attention across early years. These activities give children ways to listen, join in and begin connecting sounds with language. Vocabulary also received close attention, with children using words they had recently learnt.
Theatre trips extend that work beyond the classroom. Early years children attended productions connected with vocabulary learning, giving words a context through performance. Together, stories, sounds and theatre make language something children encounter through different experiences.
The wider school grounds include a secure outdoor learning area, purpose-built spaces for storytelling and an enclosed outdoor classroom. Forest school and sensory rooms are also school facilities. These describe the physical setting around the nursery, rather than a timetable of nursery activities.
There are school-wide development points to weigh alongside the early years judgement. In February 2025, children who understood new ideas quickly did not consistently receive tasks that stretched their understanding. Opportunities to develop enjoyment through broader reading also needed extending. These were findings about the school, rather than separate nursery judgements.
Parents have a direct route to discussion: school teachers can answer questions when the school day finishes, and the office can arrange an appointment. That gives families both an informal opportunity to raise a query and a way to make time for a longer conversation.
A SEND coordinator forms part of the school’s support structure. Devonshire’s stated aim is to work with parents as partners and value children equally, whatever their needs. For a family considering nursery, that makes the relationship between home and school part of its intended approach to care.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply separately for Reception through Sandwell Local Authority. Choosing the nursery and applying for the next stage are separate decisions.
The nursery’s introduction to sounds provides preparation for later formal phonics teaching. That is an educational connection, not an admissions advantage.
Nursery applications start with a form obtained from the school office. Full-time places are limited. Families seeking that pattern need to take the limited availability into account when planning childcare.
For nursery enquiries, contact the office on (0121) 558 1654 or email office@devinfacademy.org.uk. The school is on Auckland Road, Smethwick, B67 7AT.
Complete a nursery admission form obtained from the school office.
Yes. A limited number of full-time places are offered.
No. Reception requires a separate application through Sandwell Local Authority.
Early years provision was graded Outstanding at the inspection on 11 and 12 February 2025. This was a school early years judgement, not a separate nursery rating.
Nursery children learn basic sounds. Across early years, rhyme and stories are used to engage children, alongside a focus on vocabulary.
