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Nursery at Reynalds Cross 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Three hours a day, with play and personal care both counted as learning: that is the shape of the nursery year at Reynalds Cross. This is specialist provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities, within a maintained special school. Children admitted have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), so their individual needs form the basis of the placement.
The nursery belongs to the early years department at the Green Lane Site, separate from the school's main campus. The department caters for nursery and Reception ages, spanning 3 to 5. For families, the defining feature is an early years curriculum adapted to different ways of learning, rather than a single pace for everyone.
Play and focused teaching share the session. Continuous Provision gives children opportunities to choose and explore through free play; adults also teach individually or with a small group. That combination gives children time to follow an interest alongside learning directed towards their own needs.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) puts relationships, movement and communication first here. Personal, social and emotional development sits alongside physical development and learning to communicate. For a parent, these priorities mean that expressing a need, taking part with another child or developing a movement skill belongs within the learning programme.
Literacy and mathematics add further strands, together with creative expression and exploring the world. Learning also runs through everyday care: mealtimes and tasks involved in looking after oneself are treated as opportunities to practise skills. The session is about more than its organised activities.
Small-step target trackers record progress towards the Early Learning Goals. This makes individual steps part of the assessment process. There is a wider caution to keep in view: in June 2024, the inspection identified inconsistent checks on understanding in some school subjects, meaning gaps in learning could persist. That was a school-wide concern, rather than a finding specifically assigned to the nursery.
Settling starts with understanding the child. Ofsted's June 2024 findings described staff working with families and professionals as children joined the early years provision, identifying the help they needed. Predictable daily patterns helped most children adjust quickly. For children who need structure, knowing what comes next is part of the support.
Family Support extends help beyond the classroom. Staff can help families use communication and behaviour strategies at home, including symbols, social stories and schedules. Home visits can support this work, giving families practical ways to build consistency between school and home.
Where several professionals are involved, Team around the Family meetings can bring them together to discuss support. Referrals to Community Learning Disability Nurses can also address difficulties with toileting, sleep or behaviour. These are routes for help with everyday family life as well as learning.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Treat the next placement as a separate admissions question: at Reynalds Cross, placement decisions belong to Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council through the EHCP process. Parents request placement through Solihull Local Authority SEND Services; the school cannot accept a direct application or decide admission independently.
The early years department also has an assessment role, considering children's learning needs and whether Reynalds Cross or another provision would suit them. Families should distinguish that educational assessment from the council's decision about placement.
Nursery attendance is for three hours each day. This is a substantial practical distinction for families arranging care around the session.
For enquiries, contact the school office on 0121 707 3012 or office@reynalds-cross.solihull.sch.uk. The Satellite Centre is on Green Lane in Shirley, Solihull, B90 1AE. Use that site address when planning travel to the early years provision.
Visits can be arranged within the placement consultation process and are generally coordinated by the local authority SEND team. This gives families a route to see the provision while discussing whether it meets their child's needs.
Children attend for three hours a day during their nursery year.
The early years department is at the Green Lane Site. The Satellite Centre address is Green Lane, Shirley, Solihull, B90 1AE.
Children have free play through Continuous Provision alongside individual and small-group teaching. Communication, physical development and personal, social and emotional development are the main priorities.
No. Placement decisions are made by Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council through the EHCP process. Nursery attendance should not be treated as a guarantee of Reception admission.
Family Support can help with communication and behaviour strategies, including schedules, symbols and social stories. It can also make referrals for help with sleep, toileting and behaviour difficulties.
