Mayfield Preparatory School Nursery Review

A maze made from large blocks gives a useful picture of Mayfield’s nursery provision: children working together, testing ideas and learning through play. At this independent school on Sutton Road in Walsall, nursery provision belongs to the school’s early years department. Two nursery classes formed part of that department in September 2024.

The ISI inspection of 24 to 26 September 2024 found that early years children progressed well through an active curriculum and caring relationships with staff. Those early years findings provide the picture of learning and care below; they are broader than a nursery-only assessment.

Adult-guided learning sits alongside activities children choose themselves. That balance gives children opportunities both to follow a teacher’s direction and to pursue an idea of their own. In the little independent learners activities, building a block maze together brings creative thinking into a practical task with other children.

Conversation runs through the learning. Role play gives children reasons to talk with their friends, while adults ask questions about what they are doing. These are opportunities to practise explaining ideas, answering questions and listening during play, rather than treating language as a separate exercise.

Outdoor learning extends to local wildlife and habitats. The early years outdoor provision had been developed to help children explore the creatures around them. Physical development also includes classroom activities for smaller and larger movements, alongside PE sessions.

Learning reaches beyond the classroom, too. Early years children use play money in role play and visit a local supermarket to buy fruit for cookery. Visits from parents working in policing, dentistry and medicine introduce different jobs through people children can meet. Together, these examples connect imaginative play with everyday experiences.

Individual support and children’s wellbeing guide early years care. Staff monitor children’s development and step in when a child needs help, giving support a practical connection to what that child is learning.

Stories help children explore emotions and recognise their own feelings. Circle time gives them a way to discuss difficulties with friends and consider their behaviour. Collaborative activities indoors and outside provide further chances to practise getting along with others.

Safety has specific routines behind it. Early years staff have paediatric first-aid training, collection procedures check that children leave with the correct adult, and staff supervision meetings provide opportunities to raise safeguarding concerns. These arrangements connect everyday care with clear adult responsibilities.

Attending Mayfield’s nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Nursery admission and Reception admission are separate processes: families need to apply again through the normal Reception route and meet its deadline. Treat the nursery decision as a choice about the child’s early years experience, rather than an assurance of a later place.

Mayfield’s address is Sutton Road, Walsall, WS1 2PD. The school can be contacted on 01922 624107 or at info@mayfieldprep.co.uk for enquiries.

Policy information. The September 2024 inspection identified that some website policies had not been replaced with their updated versions and recommended closer monitoring. Families using an online policy to make a decision should check that they are reading the version currently in use.