St Paul's Church of England Academy Nursery

Closure in 2022 is the decisive fact for families considering St Paul's nursery in Tipton. Ofsted's inspection on 14 and 15 June 2023 recorded that the nursery had closed in 2022. The account below describes the former provision, rather than a nursery place families can assume they can book today.

Before closure, play and themed projects shaped the children's learning. The nursery belonged to St Paul's Church of England Academy on Robert Road. Its former setting included a Nursery Entrance and a Foundation Outside Area, giving the provision a physical identity within the school site.

The former nursery combined activities chosen by children with tasks guided by adults. Children's interests helped determine what they explored. Topics supplied another thread, connecting practical experiences with language, early number work and understanding the world.

Seven linked areas organised Foundation Stage learning. These covered communication, physical skills and personal development alongside mathematics, literacy, creative expression and knowledge of the world. For parents, the useful distinction is that learning extended beyond early reading and counting: relationships, movement and expression belonged within the same programme.

Once Upon a Time brought familiar tales into play. Children acted out and retold The Three Little Pigs and Little Red Riding Hood, turning stories into opportunities to speak and explain. Rhyme Time used songs, poems and rhymes to introduce vocabulary and explore words. The nursery's early reading foundations emphasised listening, speaking and noticing sounds alongside Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised.

Seasonal projects gave children concrete subjects to investigate. Exploring Autumn addressed falling leaves and other natural changes; Winter Wonderland considered winter weather and places with year-round snow. Ready, Steady, Grow connected farming and food with healthy eating. Animal Safari explored animals across the world, while Creep, Crawl and Wriggle focused on small creatures closer to home. These were subjects children could connect with everyday experience.

The former team comprised two nursery staff, with a learning support practitioner also holding the Nursery Leader role. That describes the team structure before closure, rather than current staffing.

At school level, safeguarding concerns must go immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead, with a deputy contacted if the lead cannot be reached. Staff are instructed to listen carefully and record observations, rather than investigate an initial concern themselves. This gives families a defined route for raising a welfare concern.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. Applications to St Paul's are handled by Sandwell Council, and a supplementary form is required for all applications. Treat choosing childcare and applying for school as separate decisions.

The school office accepts enquiries from parents and the public. Contact it on 0121 557 2573 or email office@st-pauls.sandwell.sch.uk. The school address is Robert Road, Tipton, DY4 9BH.

Closure. The nursery closed in 2022. Families should plan childcare around that material change rather than treat the former nursery programme as a current booking offer.