Silvertrees Academy Nursery Review

Conversation, songs and stories give Silvertrees Academy’s nursery its character. Little Acorns caters for children from the term they turn three, while the Nursery takes children aged three on or before 31 August of the relevant academic year. Both belong to the school in Tipton, on Silvertrees Road.

Little Acorns has a maximum of 32 children. Nursery accommodates up to 45 children per session. These are capacity limits, rather than attendance figures. Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good following its inspection on 8 and 9 October 2024; that judgement covers early years within the school.

Play chosen by children sits alongside activities directed by adults. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines care and development with learning: here, nursery priorities are communication, physical development and learning to manage feelings and relationships. Children have time to pursue their interests, with activities planned indoors and outdoors.

The school’s head, hand, heart approach connects knowledge, practical skills and emotional understanding. Talking is a recurring thread. Conversations, shared books and singing give children opportunities to practise language throughout the day, while stories in children’s home languages help connect learning with family life. Children learning English receive support too.

In October 2024, early years staff shaped activities around children’s interests and existing abilities, adapting for different ages. Story listening, rhymes and songs developed communication. Drawing and making marks also became opportunities to practise sharing equipment and waiting for a turn. Mark-making gives children a practical opportunity to learn sharing and turn-taking.

Settling starts with parents and children joining a stay and play session with the nursery teacher. Children in early years were settling successfully in October 2024. Colour Monsters helped them identify feelings and manage their responses, giving emotional development a concrete reference point.

For children with SEND, support involves the class teacher and SEND coordinator, with individual plans shared with parents and reviewed termly. The school also has a speech and language therapist visiting monthly to work with children and help staff deliver therapy. Families can discuss concerns with the teacher and arrange a meeting with the SEND coordinator. The school buildings are on one level and wheelchair accessible.

Lunch club offers a choice between a packed lunch and a charged school dinner. Children using Rainbow Club can have breakfast items and drinks, with snacks after school and a hot snack later. In October 2024, early years learning also encouraged healthy eating and dental care.

A nursery place does not guarantee admission to Silvertrees Reception or improve a child’s chances of gaining one. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal local authority process and meet the deadline for their entry year. Sandwell residents apply through Sandwell; families living elsewhere use their home authority’s application.

For 2027/28 entry, nursery attendance carries no priority. Having a sibling in the nursery also does not qualify for the Silvertrees sibling criterion. Treat the nursery choice and Reception application as separate decisions.

Transition support has a different purpose. Children with SEND who would benefit can have a transition booklet or extra classroom visits, alongside handover to their next teacher. These arrangements help children prepare for change; they do not confer an admissions advantage.

Morning sessions run from 8:30am to 11:30am; afternoons run from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. There are 15-hour morning or afternoon places and full-time 30-hour places, with the full-time day running from 8:30am to 3:30pm. Lunch club bridges 11:30am to 12:30pm, carries an additional charge and gives priority to children attending for 30 hours.

Funding for three- and four-year-olds covers 15 hours weekly across 38 weeks. Eligible working parents can access 30 hours over 38 weeks, passing their entitlement code to the school and renewing it as required. Families without 30-hour funding can pay for extra sessions. Contact the office for current charges.

Rainbow Club provides charged care during term time for children aged three and over, extending care from 7:30am until 6pm. Nursery applications go through the school office, with entry points in September, January and April and an original birth certificate required. Enquiries can be made on 0121 557 1923 or at info@silvertreesacademy.co.uk.

Attendance. Taking a nursery place brings an expectation of regular attendance. Extended absence or attendance that remains poor despite support can lead to withdrawal of the place, so families should consider whether their planned pattern is sustainable.