Birchills Church of England Community Academy Nursery

Three-hour sessions give Birchills nursery its practical shape: a morning or afternoon within a Church of England primary academy in Walsall. There are 52 nursery places, and children can start in the term following their third birthday, subject to availability. The nursery belongs to the academy’s Early Years provision, giving it a place within the school’s youngest age group.

Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 16 and 17 April 2024. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Early reading, mathematics and writing are central to the learning described for the youngest children. In April 2024, planned activities and staff training supported these foundations, while children became familiar with routines and developed good relationships. For parents, the combination matters: learning sits alongside becoming comfortable with adults and the rhythm of a session.

Read Write Inc provides a specific link with later literacy learning. Nursery children encounter preparatory skills that help them access the programme subsequently. This is preparation for the next stage, rather than a claim that nursery children follow every part of the taught programme.

The academy building has an Early Years section. Across the school site, a central playground and a playing field behind the buildings are concrete features of the setting. These describe the wider surroundings, rather than a nursery-specific outdoor timetable.

An Early Years Teacher works alongside two Early Years Practitioners in the nursery team. The April 2024 findings about children’s relationships and familiarity with routines give parents a useful picture of the social side of early learning, as well as its academic foundations.

For children with additional needs, the academy has SEND leaders and invites families to discuss their child with the SEND Co-ordinator or Family Support Worker. That creates a direct route for conversations about support before choosing the setting. The academy says it works with parents and carers to identify needs early.

Food arrangements sit within a school-wide nut-free rule. Food brought from home cannot be reheated, and families sending packed lunches are encouraged to choose healthy contents. These are practical constraints for anyone preparing food to send in.

Safeguarding concerns can be raised with the academy’s Safeguarding Team by telephone or directly at safeguarding@birchills.walsall.sch.uk.

Reception admission is separate. Attending Birchills nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply again through the normal Reception application process and meet its deadline. Treat the nursery choice and the later school application as separate decisions, rather than assuming that one completes the other.

Morning sessions run from 8:30am to 11:30am; afternoons run from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. Plan collection around the morning finish at 11:30am or the afternoon finish at 3:30pm. Match those times to the adults who will handle collection.

Visits can be arranged by phoning the school office on 01922 721063. An appointment offers the opportunity to meet the team. The academy is on Farringdon Street, Walsall, WS2 8NF.

Early Years Pupil Premium provides additional education funding for eligible disadvantaged children aged three and four. It supports provision rather than describing a family’s funded-hours booking entitlement.