Eversfield Preparatory School Nursery Review

A kitchen for early-years cookery, an all-weather outdoor play space and swimming give Eversfield’s youngest children a day that extends beyond their classroom. Kindergarten and Nursery occupy a purpose-built building within this independent school in Solihull. The provision covers ages 2¾ to 4 and belongs to the lower school, alongside Reception.

At the February 2025 ISI inspection, Kindergarten and Nursery together had 42 children across two classes. That is an inspection-date headcount, rather than a measure of places available now. Children usually begin in Kindergarten and move into Nursery the September after turning three, keeping these early stages within the same school provision.

Play and enquiry shape the learning. Eversfield uses the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), with activities that develop communication, physical abilities and social and emotional skills alongside early learning. In February 2025, children understood their routines, selected resources independently and frequently chose what to do. Adults built conversations around those choices, helping children practise listening and expressing ideas. Independence has a practical place in the day.

Children have a secure outdoor all-weather play area, while visits to the woodland area provide another setting for exploration. Singing, swimming, dance and PE bring children into contact with specialist teaching and facilities elsewhere in the school. Cookery also has a space of its own: the Early Years’ kitchen is within the Nursery building. These experiences give children different ways to learn through movement, making and conversation.

Music includes a weekly lesson in the acoustic music studio, taught by the Director of Music. The February 2025 early-years findings also describe gardening, Spanish, yoga and craft among activities extending children’s learning. Regular specialist PE supported physical development, with swimming and dance helping children develop larger movements and coordination.

Learning travels home in small, concrete ways. Children may take library books, name cards or activities involving letter sounds home to share. Objects brought from home can become talking points on the sound or colour table, connecting classroom activity with something familiar.

Teachers lead the Kindergarten and Nursery team. In February 2025, early-years staff supported both adult-guided learning and children’s own activities, and children made good progress. Support for children learning English included the youngest early-years children, helping them develop their language skills.

The school’s full-time nurse provides a contact for families managing health needs. Early-years safeguarding leaders belong to the senior leadership team; the February 2025 findings describe trained staff providing timely support. This gives early-years welfare a place within school leadership.

Food is part of the wider school provision. The Dining Room has floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Headmaster’s Lawn, and catering includes hot-meal choices and a salad bar each day. Early-years teaching also covers healthy eating and looking after teeth, linking everyday care with learning.

Nursery attendance does not give an unconditional guarantee of a Reception place. Eversfield’s admissions arrangements offer Nursery children a place for the September after their fourth birthday, provided they satisfy the entry requirements in its Admissions Policy. That condition matters: the progression described on the nursery page should be read alongside the admissions requirements.

This is a school admissions process involving a formal written offer, a Parent and School Contract, Confirmation of Entry and a deposit. Those formal steps matter separately from a child’s familiarity with the school through nursery activities.

Attendance starts at five sessions each week, taken as five half days or two-and-a-half days. Families can increase sessions at the start of a new term, up to ten sessions for full-time attendance. Kindergarten entry requires children to manage the toilet independently.

Before-school care runs from 8am to 8.30am, with after-school care from 3.30pm to 5.30pm. Swimming lessons are included in school fees; lunches, textbooks and outings attract additional charges, as do optional extended-day supervision and clubs. Refer to the school for current charges when weighing the complete day.

Personal weekday tours can be arranged through the registrar on 0121 705 0354 or registrar@eversfield.co.uk. The enquiry form also accepts visit requests. Kindergarten and Nursery applicants can accompany their parents on a tour; taster sessions are reserved for children seeking Reception or later entry.